Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The position with forestry licence appeals has progressed from being a crisis to complete chaos. Forestry owners in this country are beside themselves with worry and anger. At the year's end, we are without a satisfactory resolution to this ongoing problem, and despite legislation and relaxation of regulations, we are still looking at a period of up to two years for the backlog of appeals to be cleared.

I was happy to support the legislation brought forward by the Minister of State, Deputy Hackett, which would expedite the process for future applications. However, the problem remains in respect of the backlog. The Irish Farmers Association, IFA, has sought an amnesty to deal with delays. This proposed emergency solution is an attempt to deal with the scale of the problem. Without urgent action of this nature, we are consigning the sector to abject failure. What makes this crisis all the more frustrating for those involved is that it is a home-grown problem. The solution rests with the Government making proactive decisions such as an amnesty or dramatically increasing the staffing within the Department to process the backlog.

The longer this position is allowed to continue, the greater the damage to the industry. There are contradicting reports on the number of licences currently caught up in the appeals process. The IFA states there are 4,500 licence applications delayed, whereas a figure of 2,000 was recently quoted by Department officials. The IFA and many involved in the industry believe the Department's estimate completely underestimates the applications in waiting. They see this as a glaring anomaly as part of an effort to downplay the seriousness of the issue.

The delays in issuing licensing is demoralising and heartbreaking, and it is causing huge frustration and enormous financial pressure. Forestry farmers are enraged by the fact that they are not permitted to start work, pending a decision on their appeal. The Government must step up in a meaningful and effective way to halt this injustice and bring forward further measures to alleviate the hardship on the industry. Current problems have eroded confidence, with the result that few new forests are being planted.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has established that this year has seen only 1,900 ha of new afforestation, which is a staggering 35% reduction in comparison with last year. It is evident that national targets are alarmingly off course. We are underachieving in the sector, and the reasons for this poor performance can be associated with the costs and red tape involved with planting and managing a forest. There are too many disincentives to planting.

The Government must intervene to secure the future of forestry in Ireland. Will it consider an amnesty to allow clearance of the backlog and return the sector to some normality? The industry needs a fresh start and new initiatives to revitalise and restore confidence in a sector that is vital to our national interest.

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