Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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397. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a forestry felling licence application by a person (details supplied); the date the application was received; the reason for the delay in making a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47399/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An application for a tree felling licence on behalf of the person named, was received in April this year.  The responses to the initial referrals sent to the NPWS, Irish Fisheries and An Taisce have been received.  A Harvest Plan has been submitted by the applicant and the application will now be assessed by the Forestry District Inspector.  I would expect a decision to issue shortly.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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398. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 6 July 2021, if his Department will continue to pay the annual forest premium to forest owners affected by frost damage regardless of having passed the second instalment stage by year six or not; if his Department release the second instalment grants in circumstances in which frost damage has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47440/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The policy of the Department is to pay the 2^ndinstalment of the grant at year four following application for payment by the landowner and his agent, where the plantation has been successfully established.

Where the plantation has not been successfully established an application should not be made for year four payment. 

Regardless of the reason why a plantation has not been successfully established the premium will continue to be paid up to and including year six to give the applicant and his agent the opportunity to carry out any remedial works.

In cases where the plantation is not yet established after year six the 7^thpremium will not be paid until such a time that the forest is satisfactorily established, regardless of whether there has been frost damage or other reasons why the plantation is not established.

While 90% of the trees must be successfully established for a 2nd instalment payment, in the case of frost damaged trees some tolerance is allowed so that 2^ndinstalment grants can be made where up to 30% frost damage has occurred.  This additional tolerance in the case of frost damage has been communicated to the sector by way of ‘Circular 9 of 2020 -Inspection Standards for Grant-Aided Plantations Affected by Frost’.