Healy-Rae asks forestry appeals body to prioritise windblown sites
Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae has said he has asked the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to prioritise appeals concerning sites that include trees downed by storms.
The minister was speaking after receiving the 2024 FAC report from the body's chairperson Seamus Neely.
The FAC is an appeals body for anyone who wants to appeal a decision of the minister on whether to grant a licence for afforestation, felling, ariel fertilisation, or forestry road construction.
Minister Healy-Rae said: 'The appeals mechanism is an essential element of the forestry decision-making process in Ireland.
'It is important that both appellants and licence holders see a transparent and comprehensive appeals process, and feel that due process is fully served, and I believe that this is the case.
'As part of the government's response to storms Darragh and Éowyn, I have asked both [the] department and the [appeals] committee to prioritise appeals on sites which have been identified as being affected by windblow,' he added.
Minister Healy-Rae also said: 'I would like to acknowledge Seamus Neely's excellent work in chairing and overseeing an effective and responsive appeals process.
'I would also like to thank the deputy chairpersons, all the members of the committee and the staff of the Agriculture Appeals Office for their continued contribution in ensuring an effective and efficient appeals service for the forestry sector,' he added.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the key findings in the FAC report for 2024 are:
As of January 1, 2024, there were 53 open appeals against 41 licence decisions from 2023 that were yet to be resolved;
An additional 146 appeals were received against 115 licence decisions over the course of 2024;
The FAC closed 73 appeals against 58 licence decisions during 2024, including the carried over appeals from 2023;
Over 2024, the average time taken to make a decision on an appeal from date of hearing was 55 days.
Forestry appointments
Separately, Minister Healy-Rae has also announced the appointment of two new non-executive directors to the board of Coillte.
Commenting on the appointments of Michael Patten and Declan Meehan, Minister Healy-Rae said: 'They bring a wealth of experience and skills to the board. Their appointments bring the board membership back to full strength, consisting of four woman and five men.
Both men have been appointed for a five-year period effective from June 6.
Patten's appointment was made following a competitive process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service, while Meehan was nominated for the position of worker representative director on the Board of Coillte by SIPTU, and a recommendation for his appointment was made by the chairperson of the board of Coillte.
Minister Healy-Rae said: 'As the state forestry company, Coillte is instrumental in the commercial production of Irish home-grown timber.
'Timber is a natural and renewable product and has a role in storing carbon and removing carbon from the atmosphere, thereby contributing directly to our ambitious climate action targets.
'In addition, our public forest estate provides natural habitats and offers opportunities for recreation. I wish the new appointees and the entire board well in its endeavours,' the minister added.
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