The Association of Irish Forestry Consultants (AIFC) has called for a fast-track arrangement for tree felling and removal of timber from forests severely damaged by Storm Éowyn.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) estimates that 23,600ha of forest have been severely damaged by the recent storm.

It is estimated that around 10 million cubic metres of timber has been affected, predominantly in spruce plantations older than 20 years of age.

The department has stated that the normal licensing application process for a felling licence is required to remove trees damaged by recent storms.

However, Dermot Houlihan, chair of the Association of Irish Forestry Consultants, said that this will result "in substantial delays and further costs and losses for forest owners".

“Currently, DAFM cannot cope with the current normal number of licence applications which have decreased due to the low level of afforestation applications.

"If a fast-track arrangement is not put in place by the minister [for agriculture], the forestry service of DAFM will not have the capacity to deal, within a reasonable time, with the significant increases in applications for felling licences for forests damaged by the recent storm," he said.

Houlihan claimed that Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has the power under the Forestry Act to make regulations to exempt trees and forests severely damaged by the recent storm from the normal requirement for a felling licence.

"In essence, the Forestry Act provides a statutory basis for the minister to extend the exemption from a felling licence for damaged and windblown trees.

"This exemption can be done by Regulation (Statutory Instrument) and it would not require an amendment to the Forestry Act," he said.

Houlihan said that the fast-track procedure for tree felling and forest clearance, if the minister were to provide the statutory basis, could be based on the forest owner having a felling and timber removal plan drawn up by a registered professional forester.

DAFM recently confirmed that existing felling licences may be used to clear and remove trees damaged by Storms Darragh and Éowyn.

According to the department, “thin and clearfell licences” may be used to clear and remove trees where the forest plots covered by these licences have windblow damage caused by the recent storms.

“The existing conditions of the licence shall apply to any cutting, felling and removal of timber, including any timing restrictions in the licence conditions that might apply for the protection of bird species," it said.