Forestry licensing delays
Deputy Jackie Cahill complained that delays in forestry licences and weak planting rates were undermining climate and timber supply targets. The Taoiseach said the delays were unacceptable and had asked the relevant Minister to speed up action.
The forestry sector has a significant part to play in our climate change strategy. The sector has been bedevilled with trouble in the past number of years. We are only meeting approximately 50% of our targets for planting and face difficulties in obtaining licences for thinning, felling and plantation. The Mackinnon report has been commissioned and I would like to know the timeframe for delivery on the findings of that report to hopefully rectify some of the problems in the sector.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this challenging and urgent issue. Without question, it is having an impact on construction in terms of the supply of timber. The delays in licence applications for felling and planting are simply unacceptable and not sustainable into the future. I have asked the relevant Minister to expedite action in this regard and to see what measures are required to get rid of the logjams that are there at the moment.