Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.

The number of afforestation and felling licences received and approved in the last 12 months is outlined in the table below:

Applications Sep 2020 to Aug 2021

As of 16th September, there are 89 afforestation licence applications, 263 private felling applications, and 104 Coillte felling applications in Co. Clare awaiting a decision.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the sector. I am in regular and intensive consultation with all stakeholders, and it is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy.

The delays that have arisen were caused by changes to the licencing system which means that a significant number of cases now need ecological input to comply with environmental requirements. To find solutions towards resolving these issues, as well as focusing on woodland creation, Project Woodland was initiated early in 2021.

It comprises four working groups, each with an independent chair and with members drawn from forestry and eNGO stakeholders on the Forestry Policy Group. The Project Board, chaired by Secretary General of my Department, published its first Interim Report in July and the Project Manager has published the Project Charter which details project management oversight.

As part of Project Woodland, we are about the select a preferred bidder with legal and environmental expertise to carry out an in-depth review of the forestry licensing system. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licencing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework.

The business systems analysis currently being undertaken by an independent systems analyst will interact with and run parallel with the regulatory review, so that best possible system improvements are delivered.

In June this year, the Department issued 415 forestry licences. This output was interrupted in July and August by the introduction of a new requirement for public participation under SI 293/2021, signed on 25th June by the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage and which applies to all similar planning issues. However in the last three weeks licences exceeded expected levels with a total of 392 licences issued. This means that September will be the highest month this year for new licences. In those three weeks a total of 342 felling licences issued, of which 171 were private for over 1million m3 of timber. We anticipate that we will maintain expected levels of output to the end of the year.

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsbility for the sector, we recognise that the delivery of afforestation licences needs to improve. We are now putting in place a dedicated team of 10 ecologists who will deal solely with these licences for the forseeable future. This will increase output over the coming weeks. Productivity will depend on the quality of the information provided (e.g. NISs, ecology reports, pre-screening reports and habitat maps) provided.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my commitment to supporting the forest sector and to building on the recent progress, so that a continual improvement in delivery is achieved.