Mattie McGrath criticised Project Woodland's failure to deliver forest licences and called the situation unacceptable for farmers and the construction sector. He cited roughly 5,000 licences pending and warned that, at the April 2021 issuance rate, the backlog would take two more years to clear.
Backlog scale and timing
There are approximately 5,000 forest station, forest roads and felling licences pending decision. McGrath noted that 195 licences were issued in April 2021 and that, based on that output, it will take an additional two years to clear the existing backlog.
Impact on farmers and construction
He said the shortage is preventing farmers and the construction sector from accessing timber, with prices "gone up by 100%" and merchants unable to obtain stock. McGrath warned that people cannot roof their houses or complete extensions because of the timber supply issues.
Assessment of Project Woodland
McGrath described the situation as "bizarre" and "poor and utter madness," saying Project Woodland has not yet delivered more licences despite its announcement. He acknowledged that there have been significant backlogs and objections to licence applications over recent years.
Government action and Department capacity
He recognised that there has been significant recruitment to the Department of Agriculture and referenced a reported 90% reduction "in terms of aspects of this." McGrath said he met with the minister, the Secretary General of the Department and the Assistant Secretary responsible to press for accelerated processing and greater capacity to get licences issued.
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Robert Good, Laskan Kohler, Teachta Gondor, 25 February 2021, Minister Pepa Hackett announced Project Woodland, a new strategy to address the forest licence crisis in the sector. Despite the fanfare to date, Project Woodland has not delivered one more licence. Farmers in the industry cannot wait any longer, nor can the construction sector appear to want to build homes. There are approximately 5,000 licences, forest station, forest roads and felling licences in the system pending decision. Based on the current output, 195 licences issued in April 2021, it will take an additional two years to clear the backlog, let alone to deal with any new ones. This is bizarre and it's gubub type stuff, Taoiseach, because people can't get timber. It's gone up by 100%. The Sámis can't get it. They can't sell it on to merchants and people can't roof their houses or do extensions or anything else in a housing crisis. This is poor and utter madness and it's unacceptable to the sector and to the farmers. You are fine, you are fine. Project Woodland is a good initiative and clearly there has been very significant backlogs as a result of all of the objections and to a whole host of licence applications over the last number of years. There has been significant recruitment to the Department of Agriculture. There has been a 90% reduction in terms of aspects of this. But yes, there are still backlogs. And I met with the Minister Pippa Hackett recently and the Secretary General of the Department and the Assistant Secretary responsible for this area with a view to accelerating and making sure we can introduce greater capacity to get these licences processed.
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