Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his efforts to minimise the processing times in relation to forestry projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/22]

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

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020, and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum in 2022.

The Forestry Licensing Plan was published and commenced in January 2022.  The Plan sets out a range of forestry priorities set to run for the whole of 2022.

A target of the Plan is Reduce the average Turnaround Times (TATs) for licensing applications. The TAT is calculated as the number of days it takes from the date the application is first advertised to date of decision issued.

In the Quarter 1 Update on the Licensing Plan 2022 the TAT is 14.2 months for afforestation, 14.8 months for felling and 10.6 months for roads. 

Many older files are currently screened in and referred to Ecology. The Department has made further improvements to our systems and significantly, we have acquired the services of experienced ecologists who will be entirely focused on afforestation. The total number of full-time equivalent ecologists is now 36. The increased ecology resources are working on the older files, and given that proportionately more files will be processed from this cohort, the TAT will increase in the medium term before it reduces.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has, through Project Woodland, commissioned an independent regulatory review to consider whether its processes can be improved while continuing to fully meet the environmental requirements.

This external review is currently being finalised and following extensive stakeholder consultation is expected to be published in the coming weeks.  

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsbility for the forestry sector, we are committed to reducing these processing times.  

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider fundamental reform to the ash die back scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26412/22]

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

Ash dieback disease was first found in Ireland in late 2012 and is now found throughout the country. The year-on-year spread and impact of the disease on ash, one of our most important native broadleaves is expected to increase whether ash is found in a forest, hedgerow or roadside.  The  landscape, cultural, ecological and economic impact will be significant.

The exact origin of ash dieback disease in Ireland or when it was introduced are unknown. It is likely that the disease was introduced into Ireland on infected plants for use in either forest, farm or roadside planting.

The experience of ash dieback disease provides clear evidence of the increasing threat to our plant health status through a combination of trade and climate change.

The Department has taken a number of significant steps in response to this experience, including the publication of its Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy, the establishment of a new area of expertise in the Department in Pest Risk Analysis and in financial support to growers impacted to allow them to remove infected ash and replace it with other suitable species. I understand that a small percentage of the ash population thought to be 1%-2% may be disease tolerant.

The Department has, and continues to, support a number of research initiatives in order to identify tolerant ash trees for use in ash breeding programmes for the future.

Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS – Ash dieback) introduced in July 2020.  We have committed under the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 to refocus on the delivery of most approvals under the  Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme.

Applications for that scheme are received regularly and decisions are issued as the assessment of the applications are complete.  The Deputy will be aware that the Department is currently developing a New Forestry Programme for 2023-2027 which is examining all aspects of the afforestation programme and support schemes.

The Department is also currently examining the uptake of the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme(Ash Dieback) in 2022 and the challenges faced by the owners of ash plantations in availing of the scheme in the context of the current year planned expenditure.