Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I joined the robust debate on the delay in the forestry licence three weeks ago. At the time, it was lively. The Rural Independent Group was assured by the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, that the Bill would strengthen the present system, allowing more people to look at the licence system without delay. In reality, nothing has happened. I understood that the forestry appeals committee was to immediately split into divisions so that multiple appeals could be dealt with simultaneously, and nothing has happened. I understood that oral hearings were to cease and that there was to be an appeals process without oral hearings, and again, nothing has happened. I understood that additional resources were to be allocated to increase the capacity of the FAC. I understood that the rapid acceleration in the rates of appeals being processed was being taken on board. The Government needs to enact the legislation.

I call on the chief forest service inspector to explain why this has not been enforced. How do we clear the backlog? There are currently approximately 20 appeals heard per month and time is wasted on oral hearings. Sawmills have run out of timber. No planting programme is in place for the year ahead. Staff are being laid off throughout the country. The industry is in crisis. I want answers as to why nothing has happened. Who is responsible for the failure of what the Minister of State said was being enacted three weeks ago? Is it the senior chief forest service inspector or does the responsibility lie with her or the Minister, Deputy McConalogue? This industry is in crisis. I call on her to set a target of 30 appeals per week to clear the backlog and to try to get confidence back in the industry.

Other Deputies have asked about planning commissions. Limerick is no different from any other county. Planning permissions are being rejected all around our county because they are using the 2040 plan. If the Minister of State does not get her act in gear, she will have destroyed forestry in this country and 12,000 jobs. The buck stops here. Who is responsible for the jobs? Who is responsible for the forestry? Who is responsible for results? If the persons who are responsible cannot do their job, they should get out of it. We can see the failures in certain Departments on delivering on issues such as this across the country. I ask that if people cannot do their job or enforce what they are supposed to enforce, they should get out of it and give it to somebody who can actually do it. When it comes to the 2040 plan, all it has done is stop the building of houses in rural Ireland. That is what it has stopped in Limerick and other counties, because of the environmental impact. If the Government cannot get that right, how does it expect to get forestry right?

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