Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding forestry licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42203/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the sector at the moment. It is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and  to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy.

I am fully aware of the importance of the sector and the number of jobs it supports in nurseries, harvesting, transportation and processing. I know that it has significant potential for income generation on farms, for the creation of rural jobs, and for the provision of woodlands for public enjoyment. It also has a key role to play in meeting our national climate change and biodiversity objectives. 

My Department receives forestry applications and issues new licences every week. There are currently around 4,700 licences on hand for processing.  Some 2,000 licence applications require ecology input and, on which, a backlog has developed. The remaining 2,700 licence applications do not generally experience the same delays as the first group. By way of context on our output, we have issued 2,393 licences this year to date. Some 633 of these licences have issued since the introduction of the new Forestry legislation at the beginning of October and I am confident that this positive trend will continue.

Our overall approach to tackling this is subject to continuous improvement and review  with the aim of increasing the output of these licences on a weekly basis.  Adequate and appropriate resources are key. At the beginning of the year, there were just two ecologists working on ecology files but this figure is now sixteen. Additional forestry inspectors have also been hired to support this work.  This delivered increased output in October and November compared to other months this year. In relation to felling, the licences issued so far this year represents over 4 million cubic meters of timber.

We also implemented significant changes to the functioning of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and acted quickly to propose and implement the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. I have significantly resourced the FAC and four appeals committees are now set up and hearing appeals. This is an increase from one Committee that was previously in existence.  Since putting these additional resources in place, the FAC has held 61 hearings and has 42 hearings scheduled for December.  This is significantly reforming how the FAC does its business and will result in a more fit-for-purpose, environmentally sensitive and sustainable forestry licensing process which serves all stakeholders.

While there is still has some considerable way to go, I am encouraged by this progress and intend to sustain and build on this output of licences issued each week. To this end, my Department will recruit additional ecologists and support staff in the New Year. 

It is a key priority of mine and my Department to ease the pressure on the sector as soon as possible.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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247. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the planning grant to cover new environmental reports in forestry will come into effect as set out in the Mackinnon report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42204/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of an environment report supported by a planning grant is one of the 22 ' Ways Forward' included in the Mackinnon Review of the afforestation approval process. 

Minister of State Hackett has recently appointed Ms.  Jo O’Hara, who led the implementation of a similar review of Scottish forestry,to advise on an Implementation Plan for the Mackinnon report.  We expect her recommendations to be delivered by end-February 2021.