Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
770. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, in tabular form, the total number of private felling licences issued by his Department in each year since 2014; the number of felling licences issued to Coillte for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40186/23]
View answerAlong with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, it is my aim to deliver a felling licensing system which meets the needs of the forestry sector. This is regardless of whether that application comes from a private individual, a forest owner or Coillte. Each licence has a value, particularly to the rural economy, where the timber is harvested, transported and processed.
To date in 2023, my Department has issued 1,007 Coillte licences and 1,107 private felling licences (48%/52%, respectively). Last year, we issued 1,686 Coillte and 1,607 private licences (51%/49% respectively).
My Department issues an annual report with extensive statistics on forestry called "Forest Statistics Ireland 2023" and this can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/15b56-forest-statistics-and-mapping.
The number of felling licences issued since 2014 is set out below.
|
Private Felling licences issued |
Coillte Felling licences issued |
|
|
2014 |
1,702 |
915 |
|
2015 |
1,152 |
1,454 |
|
2016 |
1,492 |
1,247 |
|
2017 |
1,312 |
1,691 |
|
2018 |
1,449 |
2,154 |
|
2019 |
1,046 |
3,134 |
|
2020 |
852 |
865 |
|
2021 |
1,345 |
1,532 |
|
2022 |
1,607 |
1,686 |
|
2023 (to 8 September) |
1,107 |
1,007 |
