Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the increased premiums and grants, but faith in the system needs to be regained among farmers and foresters. Lengthy delays in processing applications are resulting in many choosing not to plant. They foresee the same delays happening down the road as affected felling licences.

There is another area of discontent. Coillte's felling licences are above target. If we are to see a resolution to the crisis and to avert it dissuading potential new entrants, a new statutory period within which a decision is provided to applicants needs to be established. The Mackinnon report needs to be implemented in a fashion similar to Scotland. We need movement on reports, not more reports on reports that end up sitting on shelves. Targets are being missed today, the impact of which will be felt years down the road.

I hope this is the last conversation we have on missing targets.

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