Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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601. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the recommendation of the working group 4 within Project Woodland with respect to its recommendation that an independent review of the regulatory process takes place; if he plans to act on this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36353/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Working Group 4 of Project Woodland have made a recommendation to the Project Board around carrying out an independent review of the regulatory process. The Project Board are examining this recommendation and will be making a proposal on the terms of reference for this review to Minister of State Hackett shortly. This review of the regulatory process is a vitally important part of the work of Project Woodland to ensure that our systems are efficient and legally robust.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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602. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement his officials have had with the European Commission in relation to the forthcoming EU Forest Strategy; the information that has been received from the European Commission on the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36354/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the European Union Green Deal, the EU launched an online public consultation on the development of a new EU Forest Strategy. Citizens and stakeholders had until 19th April 2021 to share their views with the Commission. The strategy will build on the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 and will cover the entire forest cycle as well as promoting the many services forests provide.

The Department participates in both the EU Council Working Group on Forestry and the Standing Forestry Committee where this matter has been discussed on foot of presentations by the European Commission. Ireland supports the development of this strategy. Minister of State Hackett met with Vice President Timmermans earlier this year to update on him on Irish forestry and made particular reference to the proposed EU and Irish forest strategy being developed.

The EU Strategy is being developed by the European Commission. The Draft European Union Forest Strategy will be published by the European Commission later this month with adoption planned for later this year.

The planned publication of the EU Forest Strategy is timely as it will feed into how we shape the new Irish Forestry Strategy currently being developed. Our Forest Strategy will be subject to full public and stakeholder consultation which is planned to take place this year.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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603. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out an analysis on job losses in the forestry and timber industry as a result of the licensing crisis; if so, if financial supports will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36355/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders in order to resolve the current licensing delays. I believe that continuing to focus our efforts on increasing the output of licences is the best way to support the Forestry Industry. We are committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 75% on 2020. To 30th June, 40% of that target has issued, with 105 licences issuing last week.

In order to address licensing issues as well as encouraging woodland creation, Project Woodland has been set up under the leadership of Minister of State Hackett, who has responsibility for forestry.

It involves four different Working Groups reporting to the Minister through a Project Manager and a Project Board. The Working Groups are working concurrently, focusing on different areas. The first will concentrate on the backlog, the second on a vision for forestry, the third on devising a fit-for-purpose organisational structure and communication and the fourth on streamlining the licensing process for the future. Through this framework, it is hoped that a renewed confidence in forestry will be fostered, that communication of its benefits will be more widely understood and that, looking to the future, a new vision for forestry in Ireland will be developed.

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, I am committed to tackling the issues facing us and will put all efforts into maintaining a steady flow of licences to the sector. I know the importance of the sector to jobs in rural areas and will do all that I can to support its continued contribution to the rural economy to maximise the sector's output and its employment potential.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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604. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of felling licences; the number of licences applied for in 2020 and to date in 2021; the processing metrics associated with the applications; the actions being implemented to speed-up processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36356/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has issued 1,105 felling licences to the end of June 2021 which is 28% higher than the same point last year. In volume terms, 77% more timber has been licensed this year compared to last year, albeit from a lower base.

Over 1,760 felling licence applications were submitted in 2020 and 2,413 have been submitted to date in 2021. The 1,105 licences issued represents an increase of 28% on the number of licences issued to the same date last year which clearly demonstrates that measures that have been introduced to speed-up processing times are working.

The Deputy will be aware of Project Woodland which aims at, among other matters, addressing the backlog of forestry licences awaiting decision.

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 has been 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.