Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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969. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of forestry licences in his Department by year of submission that are still awaiting a decision in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23998/21]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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986. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the wait time for felling licence and thinning out licence applications; the number of applications outstanding; his plans to address the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24409/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 969 and 986 together.

I am aware of the issues facing the forestry sector and the timber industry and considerable efforts have been made to address them. Significant additional resources have been recruited and training, information and guidance has been provided to both Department staff and registered foresters and, as a result, we have seen gains in terms of output.

To date, 1,085 new forestry licences have issued this year, which is 11% up on the total number issued in the same period in 2020. Across all licence types, improvements in delivery of decisions can be seen compared to the same time last year. Felling licences are up 1% in number issued and 29% for the volume of timber. To date, 100km of forest roads have been licensed, which is 80% of the commitment given to license 125km of forest roads this year. Finally, the area of afforestation licensed is up by 16% to date at 1,937ha.

In addition, my colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett has established Project Woodland to work with stakeholders to examine all aspects of forestry, including reducing the licensing backlog and a review of processes to make for a more effective and efficient licensing system. I am confident that the framework now in place under Project Woodland will address our current difficulties and will result in a licensing system which meets the needs of forest owners and new applicants.

The table below shows the number of licence applications, by year advertised, still awaiting decision. Note: Data for tree felling licence applications are given from 24^thMay 2017 to 30^thApril 2021; data for afforestation and forest road licence applications are given from 26^thApril, 2016 to 30^thApril 2021, which is the best information available.

In the last 12 months, the average time from date advertised to date of decision for tree felling licences issued is 10 months.