Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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638. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for afforestation refused on ecological grounds since the commencement of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020; the number of applications for replanting post clearfell refused on ecological grounds; the number of applications for afforestation refused by the appeals committee on ecological grounds; the number of applications for replanting post clearfell refused by the Forest Appeals Committee on ecological grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33270/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for forestry licences are assessed on their own merits, taking into consideration the potential impact the proposed operations may have on the surrounding countryside and environment.  The application is examined on its own and in combination with other plans and projects in the area. 

There are several reasons why an application for a forestry licence may be refused.  For example, for silvicultural reasons, the proposed forestry plantation simply will not achieve the required yield class set out by the scheme.  The operations may also have a negative impact on the environment and the proposal submitted cannot provide appropriate mitigation against those impacts.  For this reason, the application may be refused on environmental grounds.

The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2020 commenced on 5th October, last.  Since then, the  Department has refused 10 applications for afforestation licences for environmental grounds.  There have been no refusals for tree felling licences (which automatically include a requirement to replant).  The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC), which is operationally independent of the Department has cancelled five licence decisions on appeal, for environmental reasons, three afforestation and two tree felling licences.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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639. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33276/21]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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640. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding forestry licensing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33277/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together.

There are likely to be many factors which affect the decisions by landowners not to proceed to planting, despite having received a licence to do so. In the first place, licences remain in place for three years and circumstances may change in that time. Land may change hands or other land-use opportunities may be availed of, and indeed, some licences may be purely speculative from the outset.

I acknowledge that delays in issuing licences for thinning and felling may have some part to play in influencing planting decisions. I take very seriously the need to improve licensing output and it an issue of the utmost importance for Minister of State Hackett, who has responsibility for forestry, and myself.

In this regard, Project Woodland, which was launched in February this year, has been set up with the objective of reviewing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the forestry licensing system, as well as the creation of a shared national vision for forestry and the development of a new Forest Strategy.

Two working groups in particular are looking at the licensing situation. Working Group 1 is tasked with looking at the backlog. This Group has examined in detail the cases on hand and is producing specific recommendations for improving output, including a definition of the backlog, which will be brought to the Project Board for consideration. Working Group 4 is concentrating on licensing process improvement. A business analyst has commenced work on an end-to-end process review. In addition, proposals for a pre-application process and a planning grant are under development and will be submitted to the Project Board shortly. The Group is also actively considering how best to conduct a regulatory review of the licensing system.

While these initiatives are being worked on, we continue to issue licences and engage in a process of continuous improvement. The extra resources invested in and new streamlined procedures for dealing with appropriate assessment cases have resulted in gains in output. To 18th June, a total of 1,594 licences have issued, which is 27% ahead of the same period last year. In terms of timber volumes, the Department has issued licences for 3.14 million cubic metres. Overall, 971 tree felling licences have issued to date, of which 47% are private felling licences. I expect to maintain this momentum for the rest of the year and to reach the target of issuing 4,500 licences, which is a 75% increase on last year’s licencing output.

Communication is another important aspect of Project Woodland and Working Group 3 is working on a new Customer Charter for forestry, and the development of a communication strategy. A review of the organisational structure of the forestry division within the Department will also be carried out and the roles and interaction with COFORD, Teagasc and Coillte will be examined.

Working Group 2 is also developing a public engagement strategy as part of the development of the new Forest Strategy. It is envisaged that all stakeholders in the forestry sector as well as the general public will be included in this process, and this should help identify both opportunities and barriers to afforestation. Furthermore, Irish Rural Link has been commissioned by Minister Hackett to conduct a study to determine the level and type of engagement of communities with forestry and to make recommendations for the future.

The Forestry Policy group is meeting later this week at which a full update on progress to date will be provided to all stakeholders.

I believe that the framework now in place under Project Woodland will deliver on its objectives and I am hopeful that this will provide encouragement to farmers and landowners to go into forestry, or to realise the planting licences they have already received, and to avail of the attractive premiums available under the Department’s Schemes. It is a land-use which can be complementary to a productive farming enterprise, and can provide a valuable additional income support stream.

The Department is also working to ensure that there is integration between Agri-Environment schemes in CAP and the new Forestry Programme. It is intended that tree planting measures will form part of the new Agri-Environment schemes. The transitional REAP scheme (a results-based payment approach for grasslands) has for instance tree planting as a complementary action.

In conclusion, I would like to re-iterate my commitment to forestry and to delivering a service and conditions that will benefit all those involved in the sector and, in particular, landowners and farmers.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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641. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding harvesting plans (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33278/21]

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 it can satisfy itself that that the project will not have an adverse effect on the environment.   

In June 2019, a Harvest Plan template was developed for the sector and Circular 11 of 2019 encouraged its use.  DAFM Circular 18 of 2020 confirms that, for sites that are screened in for Appropriate Assessment, a well-developed Harvest Plan (or equivalent) is essential, as it is likely to inform part or all of the site level mitigation associated with the appropriate assessment. This applies equally to Coillte and private applicants.   

The Department has recently updated its advice to applicants and their advisers on the important role which good quality harvest plans can play in the processing of their licences. This issued last week in the form of a circular to the trade. It is important that all stakeholders study the circular and respond accordingly when making submissions.