Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

591. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a felling licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13150/20]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An application for a tree felling licence was received from the person named.  Every application for a forestry licence must undergo careful assessment for the potential effects the proposed operations may have on their own or in combination with other plans or projects in the area.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department made changes to the assessment procedures used when examining all forestry licence applications.  These changes were introduced in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC).  These findings meant that, in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable. These changes, which are substantial, have led to delays in processing applications. My Department has devoted considerable time and energy to introducing a robust and workable system and is now recruiting significant extra resources, both ecologists and forestry inspectors, to address the backlog.

On initial examination of the application it was determined that the proposed site is within the Slieve Felim and Silvermines Mountain SPA, which is designated for Hen Harrier.  There is a possibility that the proposed tree felling operations could affect the hen harrier, particularly during the nesting season.   The person named has submitted a Natura Impact Statement, which has been forwarded to my Department’s Ecology Unit for examination.  I have asked that the application is prioritised.

Once this work is complete, the forestry inspector will make their recommendations, which will form the decision on the application.  The decision will be issued to the person named and any person who made a submission on the application.  The decision may be appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee within 28 days.