Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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817. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the metrics used to calculate that 850 road licences, as detailed in his Department's plan will be sufficient to mobilise the available timber in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10838/22]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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818. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forest road applications with single consent that were lodged with his Department; the number that have been processed to date; the number that remain to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10839/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 817 and 818 together.

My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 and this was the starting point for developing a more ambitious plan for 2022. 

In 2021, my Department issued forest road works licences for 264km and this is the highest ever volume of forest roads licenced in a single year. The Department is of the opinion that the volume of timber felled in 2021, based on the available forest road network, and new forest road Licences issued, was sufficient to stabilise the supply of timber in saw mills

The recently published Forestry Licensing plan for 2022 includes the licensing of 5,250 applications for felling, forest roads and afforestation. The target for 2022 is to issue 850 forest road works licences which will be more than sufficient to enable the haulage of timber from the forest estate when added to the existing roads already approved or installed in Irish forests.  This represents an increase of 27% on the road licences issued in 2021.

In February 2020, Section 8 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 was commenced and the Forestry (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2020 (SI No. 39 of 2020), were signed.  This legislation made provision for my Department to act as the single consent authority for applications for forest road works licences, where the forest road provides access to a public road (other than a national road) or there is material widening of an existing entrance.  Forest owners wishing to carry out such works no longer require a grant of planning from their local authority.

To 25^thFebruary 2022, the Department received 452 forest road works applications, under the single consent process. 217 of these applications are awaiting a decision.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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819. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there are no metrics on his proposal for new afforestation sites less than one hectare in the recently published plan; if there will be an approval process for such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10840/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has the stated policy goal of incentivising small-scale tree planting and of re-engaging farmers with afforestation. This includes greater integration between the measures in the National Forestry Programme and the Common Agriculture Policy.

However, the inclusion of small-scale tree planting measures in schemes is constrained by the 0.1ha size limit imposed by the forest definition in the Forestry Act 2014.

Key to the success of increasing afforestation rates is to build confidence among landowners of the benefits of forestry as a viable option to complement existing enterprises. Introducing an exemption for the afforestation in certain circumstances facilitates the exclusion of clearly defined activities from requiring an afforestation licence. This exemption is an enabling proposal that allows forests to be created through initiatives, other than the afforestation scheme, thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change, biodiversity and water quality.

These proposed changes are being introduced as part of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, which will allow the Minister to make Regulations to facilitate small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence. This Bill has progressed through all stages in the legislative process in the Dail and is currently before the Seanad for Committee Stage debate. There are no metrics included in the licensing plan as the legislation must still be passed by the Oireachtas.  

Importantly, the requirement to comply with environmental law is not undermined by making this change as all works are controlled by regulation through a Departmental scheme. The development of a scheme will be undertaken following the completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments. Eligibility criteria will be incorporated into the scheme which will ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner.