Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1255. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if felling licences to date in 2021 have been issued for 22,736 ha in view of the fact afforestation licences in the same period only amount to 3,418 ha (details supplied); his views on whether this amounts to net deforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53265/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department is the consent authority for certain forestry operations in Ireland, including tree felling and afforestation. Tree felling licences, save in very limited exceptions, carry an obligation to replant the same site. Therefore, issuing more tree felling than afforestation licences does not confer net deforestation.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1256. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected number of hectares of forestry that will be planted in 2021 and 2022, respectively; the number of new hectares planted to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53291/21]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1257. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected number of hectares of forestry that will be felled in 2021 and 2022, respectively; the number of hectares felled to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53292/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1256 and 1257 together.

I refer the Deputy to his Parliamentary Question number 366 of 21st October, in which he queried the number of hectares to be planted in 2022. I noted that the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was voluntary and that it was not possible to determine the area that will be planted. In addition to this, I advised the Deputy that there are currently 5,700 hectares approved awaiting planting. There are also 7,900ha in the system awaiting approval.

Significant increases in afforestation will be required over the next decade. I am aware that delays in issuing licences may be a contributory factor in terms of interest in planting. We are addressing the backlog through the Project Woodland initiative and September was the highest month for licence issue since April 2019.

Afforestation licences for almost 3,400 hectares have issued this year and we now have a dedicated team of 10 ecologists working on afforestation files ahead of the planting season. It is important that the Department receives good quality applications from applicants and that they respond to any requests for further information. We are in regular contact with registered foresters and applicants on this.

To end September, the Department has paid for 1,759ha of new forestry. Again, applications for payment are voluntary and I would encourage anyone who has planted trees to submit their application for payment as soon as possible. I would also encourage anyone with a forestry licence that has not yet planted to do so.

Tree felling licences do not carry an obligation to fell the trees concerned. Tree felling licences have issued this year for 22,800ha and for a volume of 6.47 million cubic metres. The COFORD All Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2021-2040 for tree felling noted that 4.116 million cubic metres of timber is expected to be felled in 2021.

Therefore, the Department has issued tree felling licences that more than covers the forecasted harvest volumes. Again, it is not possible to predict what tree felling licences would be applied for in 2022, but I would expect similar or even greater outputs.