A series of Oireachtas Agriculture and the Marine Joint Committee meetings have been taking place since October to discuss challenges for the forestry sector.

Chaired by Deputy Jackie Cahill TD, the committee heard witness reports from organisations such as the IFA, Forest Industries Ireland (FII), Coillte, Limerick-Tipperary Woodland Owners and Woodlands of Ireland, while Department officials answered question on 17 November.

These focused on forestry licence applications outstanding and the ash reconstitution and underplanting scheme (RUS). Where answers were unavailable at that sitting, the Department agreed to provide the requisite information to the committee.

For almost a year now, I have had contractors on to me who have expensive machines parked up, with no work available

Deputy Cahill is satisfied the committee has worked well, especially in highlighting the crisis that exists in the forestry licensing system.

“I believe the Department officials weren’t fully aware of the gravity of the situation,” he maintains.

“For almost a year now, I have had contractors on to me who have expensive machines parked up, with no work available. They have heavy financial commitments and may face bankruptcy. Also, sawmills importing timber in a country with sufficient raw materials illustrates the ineptitude of the current system.”

He says the committee report will reflect proceedings at the meetings and the issues raised. These obviously include licence delays and RUS, he maintains.

In addition, he outlines the importance of achieving an 8,000ha planting programme, implementing MacKinnon and establishing a forestry charter.

MacKinnon

He believes the committee focused the Department’s mind on the appointment of Jo O’Hara to oversee the implementation of the MacKinnon review on forestry.

“When committee member Sean Sherlock TD asked Minister McConalogue about the appointment of a chairperson to oversee the implementation of MacKinnon last October, the reply was less than convincing and the committee sensed this,” he maintains.

The committee placed a spotlight on the implementation of MacKinnon

“At that stage, the Minister, while acknowledging the importance of the review, was only ‘examining the appointment’ of an independent chair to oversee the process. The committee placed a spotlight on the implementation of MacKinnon and I believe this was instrumental in the appointment last month of Jo O’Hara to oversee this work.”

Charter of rights

Deputy Cahill says one of the issues that needs to be addressed is the uncertain time frame between applications for licences and final approval to begin work. He believes farmers will not consider the forestry option while there is no time limit in the licensing process.

“I am convinced of the need to establish a forestry charter, similar to the farmers charter,” he maintains. Referring to his time as ICMSA president when he lobbied for a charter, he says: “This worked in the past for different farm schemes, as the charter put strict time frames in place for payment dates.”

He maintains that a time frame “would give the sector confidence in the system as well as ensuring the Department would be answerable to stakeholders when applying for licences.”

Committee report

When asked about the committee’s own timescale to deliver its final report, he says the schedule is tight: “We are meeting this week to begin drafting the report, but we are still waiting for some questions to be answered by Department officials,” he explains.

“We hope to have all answers this week and we then plan to have the report and our recommendations ready by mid-January.”

He believes that the report is just the beginning, as continuous stakeholder pressure is essential to ensure the licence system is fixed and a return to a viable planting programme is possible.

Minister Hackett launches forestry yearbook

Minister of State for Forestry at the Department of Agriculture Pippa Hackett launched the 2021 Forestry and Timber Yearbook last Friday.

“As a forest owner myself, with around 15ac of land planted with trees, I welcome the wealth of information contained in the yearbook, which will be of interest to both timber growers and foresters,” she said.

Published by the Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA), the yearbook “is now regarded as the official annual source of information on forestry taxation, statistics, grant aid, timber prices and policy position papers, as well as providing a directory featuring practically every relevant stakeholder working in the forestry and forest products sector,” said ITGA chair Brendan Lacey.

He thanked Minister Hackett for launching the yearbook and for her foreword to the 2021 edition.

For more information, contact ITGA at 01-235 0520 or email info@itga.ie or visit www.itga.ie.

Ash reconstitution scheme

One of the questions asked at the November 17 joint Oireachtas committee meeting was how many applications had been made for funding under the ash reconstitution and underplanting scheme (RUS). The reply by Minister Hackett was “more than 200”.

Asked for an update on the RUS, a Department spokesperson said: “The Department has received 188 applications for a total area of 770ha for the reconstitution and underplanting (Ash Dieback) scheme. As advised at the Oireachtas Committee, the IT system to process these applications is in place. Acknowledgements are issuing to applicants.”

A spokesperson for Limerick-Tipperary Woodland Owners said: “The ash RUS is totally unacceptable and fails to compensate woodland owners with ash dieback. Applications to RUS are being made under duress by growers, who otherwise lose their premium payments.”