Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling licence applications delayed with the current backlog; the measures that are being taken to progress these licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has, through Project Woodland, established a definition of the backlog, which is anything on hand over 120 days. Therefore, the current licences on hand, broken down by category and those over 120 days is indicated in the table below.

These cohorts of applications have reduced by 29% since the end of last August, which is a significant reduction in the number of applications awaiting decision.

Our plans for licence issue in 2022 are contained in the Forestry Licensing Plan with a target of 5,250 licences issues, which is a year-on-year increase of 30%. This includes an increase of 36% in private felling licences to 1,830, while Coillte felling licences at 1,530 will maintain the levels achieved in 2021.

The Licensing Plan 2022 may be found here gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie).

Week ending 25th March