Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

372. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10853/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the interest shown by the organisation named to actively contribute with their ideas to Ireland’s forestry sector and we are more than open to engaging with all practical solutions to improve and enhance the position of the sector. I was heartened to read about the organisations’ work with younger farmers and I am in agreement that this is an area that should be expanded in the future.

I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licensing delays are having on private timber growers. Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who is responsible for forestry, it is my immediate priority to deal with this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed to continue to contribute to our rural economy.

The Deputy will be aware of the delays caused by changes to the licensing system, which means that a significant number of cases now need ecological input to comply with environmental requirements. We are tackling these delays by means of a systematic project plan. In 2020, we invested heavily in resources including the recruitment of additional ecologists, forestry inspectorate and administrative staff, with extra resources to be added this year. This has already resulted in an increase in the number of licences issued, and the last quarter of 2020 saw the highest number of licences issued last year. In addition, January saw the highest number of licences issued in any one month since July 2019. So far this year, 568 licences have issued, which is well ahead of what we had delivered at the same time last year. We intend to build on this momentum and have committed to issuing 4,500 licences in 2021.

As regards the issues raised in relation to my Department’s Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme, I would like to emphasise that this is a new Scheme which was opened for applications in June 2020. Two hundred and fifty applications have been received to date and decisions have been issued since the start of this year. No changes to the scheme are planned at this stage and I would like to point out that my Department has invested heavily since 2013 on breeding ash for resistance and there are many projects at an advanced stage.

I expect the implementation plan for the recommendations of the Mackinnon Report will be published this week and it will no doubt provide a framework for addressing the wide ranging issues faced by the forestry sector, including the way forward for forestry in Ireland, in terms of a new Forestry Strategy and Programme.

We look forward to active and constructive engagement from all interested parties across society to help shape this new vision.

I would like to reiterate that it is long-standing DAFM policy to encourage all forest producer groups to come together and have one collective, strong voice as part of this process.