Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the measures that are in place to reduce the backlog in felling and planting licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53162/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise that due to continued high output in forestry licencing this year we have seen considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences.

The backlog has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 1,639. We are issuing more licences than applications received and this means that the backlog continues to drop, with faster turnaround times for new applicants. To date this year we have issued 3,914 licences which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year and there are currently 953 approved afforestation licences with just under 7,000 hectares ready for planting.

These improved outputs have been achieved through a commitment to continuous improvement ,as well as through the implementation of measures recommended under Project Woodland.

Work is ongoing with the implementation of the 57 recommendations arising from a business process review carried out under Project Woodland.

An Agile Implementation Group is implementing system solutions, with 71% of the recommendations either complete or in progress.

This builds on earlier improvements to our processes. These improvements have facilitated the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Reports by my Department, which removes this burden from applicants in most cases. Associated with this and in order to assist foresters in submitting quality applications, we provided habitat map training and training for ecologists.

Furthermore, a pre-application discussion pilot has been completed and we now intend to deliver this at a national level, along with the new Forestry Programme. All of these measures are aimed at improving the quality of applications received and optimising the time of those assessing applications.

In tandem with reviewing processes, we have substantially increased the resources available to process forestry licences.

In addition, a legal and regulatory review of forestry licensing was carried out by Philip Lee Consultants and, following extensive stakeholder engagement, their Report was published in June.

Philip Lee reviewed and critically analysed the existing legal framework for the licensing of forestry activities and focused on practical and implementable options for streamlining processes and procedures.

The Project Board for Project Woodland has responded to these recommendations and the Department will now finalise a plan for the implementation of the Report, with a certain number of actions already underway.

I welcome what we have achieved so far and the measures we have adopted to address the backlog. I look forward to continuing this positive momentum and remain committed to a licensing system that is fit for purpose which will underpin an ambitious new Forestry Programme.