The IFA has called on Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to introduce an environmental grant to support farmers with the cost of getting a felling licence.

IFA farm forestry chair Vincent Nally has said farmers need to see delivery on the recommendations in Project Woodland.

In March, 193 forest licences were issued, which was down 29% on February and 45% on January. Of the 193, 140 were issued to the private sector and 53 issued to Coillte.

It’s devastating for farmers

“Despite the additional resources, we’re not seeing the pick-up in the granting of licences,” Nally warned.

“It’s devastating for farmers who are still waiting to manage their forests, and whose investment is losing value while they are forced to wait.”

Red tape

The IFA has said that ecology continues to be a major pinch point in the system.

“The Minister must introduce an environmental grant to support farmers with the cost of getting a felling licence immediately.

The Department continues to prioritise afforestation applications

“This should be piloted on the private felling licences that are caught up in ecology,” Nally continued.

“The Department continues to prioritise afforestation applications, but it’s the farmers who have already invested their land that need a felling licence and supported through a grant.

“Farmers with forests ready for thinning cannot wait for the recommendations in Project Woodland to be delivered. Too many hectares of productive private forestry will be lost while they wait for the bureaucratic red tape to be fixed.”