Offaly farmers concerned over tree felling application and licence process

Independent TD Carol Nolan has said that sawmills and farmers in Laois and Offaly have asked her to investigate why there is a noticeable slowdown in the number of tree felling licenses being granted and extended by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, confirmed to the Dáil that while in 2016, a total of 6,514 licences were issued; only 2,948 licences had been issued by the summer of this year. There are also considerable delays in regard to the extension of existing licenses.

“The capacity to fell trees if and when it is necessary is vital to farmers being able to maximise productivity and land use. It is also vital that they are granted prompt extensions to their licenses in order to be able to continue with their work which will in turn supply the sawmills and protect much-needed employment in rural Ireland.