Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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2542. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte receive preferential treatment when applying to the forest service licence system in relation to the provision of site-specific harvesting plans and replanting plans for its individual sites (details supplied); if so, his views on whether this is an anticompetitive practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20184/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The control of tree felling is regulated under the Forestry Act, 2014 and the Forestry Regulations, 2017 (SI number 191/2017).

The provision of a harvest plan at application stage is not a legal requirement. However, applicants are encouraged to include them with their licence application. Where not provided at application stage, the Department often subsequently requires a harvest plan or other information about the felling so that the Department can satisfy itself that that the project will not have an adverse effect on the environment.

All application documentation for applications received since 11^thJanuary this year is now available in my Department’s Forestry Licence Viewer (FLV). Documentation in relation to the assessment of these applications will be available in the FLV at the time of decision.

Every application for a forestry licence is assessed on its own merits and in combination with other plans or projects in the area and so other information including an NIS may also be required to fully assess the proposed operations.

Decisions on Coillte felling applications are subject to the same assessment, puiblic consultation and appeals process as decisions on private sector applications.