Carol Nolan demands urgent action on 5,000 forestry licence backlog
Carol Nolan raised the backlog of forestation and felling licences in a parliamentary debate, urging the government to implement the McKinnon report and set processing timeframes. She warned of an urgent crisis risking thousands of jobs and harming sawmills, foresters, hauliers and homebuilders.
Backlog and demands
Carol Nolan said there is a current backlog of 5,000 forestry and felling licence applications and called for full implementation of the McKinnon report within a set timeframe. She also requested that every application be processed within a clear statutory or administrative timeframe to speed decisions.
Economic and social impact
She warned the backlog places 10,000 jobs on the brink and is causing sawmills to lose serious revenue. Foresters, hauliers and people trying to build homes were cited as being directly affected by the delay in issuing licences.
Government response
The Taoiseach replied that the government is doing everything possible to address the backlog, noting that the House passed legislation aimed at the issue and that progress has been made. The Taoiseach said reforms must be implemented more quickly and that agreed changes require the assent of the Minister.
Further measures and planting
The Taoiseach also said the government is considering additional measures to accelerate planting, with a focus on native woodlands aligned with the climate change agenda. Supportive measures for the farming community were mentioned, including facilitation of riparian schemes to prevent water pollution and encourage tree planting.
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Taoiseach, I want to raise the issue of the backlog of forestation and felling licences. Currently there is 5,000 of a backlog and I am asking you once again, will you ensure that the government takes action? I did meet a number of representatives from the Social Economic Environmental Forestry Association and what they are asking for is actions in terms of the full implementation of the McKinnon report within a certain time frame and also to ensure that every application that is made, that there is a time frame in terms of the processing of these licences. There is a deep crisis currently, Taoiseach, we need to make sure there is urgent action. We have 10,000 jobs on the brink, we have sawmills losing serious revenue, we have a lot of jobs, as I said, at risk and we have foresters and hauliers also affected within the sector, as are people trying to build homes. So I am asking if you will consider taking those two actions that I just asked you about. Well, first of all, we are doing everything we possibly can to try and deal with that backlog and to try and get licences issued and we, as you know, the House passed legislation to that effect. Progress has been made but we need to do it, we need to make faster progress and more accelerated progress and implement all the reforms that have been indicated and which get the agreement of the Minister. Minister, we are also looking at other measures to try and ensure a faster planting situation, particularly native woodlands in line with our climate change agenda and also to provide support to the farming community, for example, to facilitate initiatives, riparian schemes and so on that would help avoid pollution of our waterways and grow more trees. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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