Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that forestry licence targets are not being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38071/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has committed to issuing 5,250 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 30% on the number issued last year. This is an ambitious target but one which we are committed to meeting,

The Forestry Licensing Plan was published at the start of the year and sets out a range of forestry priorities set to run for the whole of 2022.

As regards progression towards our overall target at the end of quarter two 2022, up to 30th June, we have issued 2,449 licences, just short of the projected average of 2,635. It is, however, inevitable, in the context of the annual target figures, there will be fluctuations in licence output and across categories from week to week. I remain confident that by year end we will achieve our projected targets.

In order to achieve our objective, we have improved our systems, and given the number of files required to be referred for ecologistical assessment, we have recently recruited additional ecologists. There are 35 full-time equivalent ecologists working on forestry applications, with 21 dealing with afforestation.

In addition, to ensure efficient use of resources and similar to other planning authorities, files with outstanding further information requests back with the applicants over a set time will be removed from the licensing worklist. Reminders will always be sent to applicants to make them aware of the situation with their file.

We expect the weekly output to increase once the full impact of all these measures including the new ecologists becomes evident and it remains my commitment to meet the targets set out in the Licencing Plan.

In the interest of full transparency details of all licences issued by category are available on the weekly dashboard. This is published on the Departmental website and is made available to all interested parties as well as being submitted to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine each week.