Biography
Colm Hayes
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Image: Colm Hayes
Colm Hayes has been assigned responsibility at Assistant Secretary level for Forestry, Market Supports and Ireland’s Rural Development Programme including the operation of some of the schemes under that Programme.
Forestry Division is responsible for the development, implementation and promotion of forest policy, as well as the administration of various schemes that provide funding for the planting and maintenance of forests and for the development of forest roads. It also implements the provisions of forestry legislation in relation to the control of felling. Responsibility for Coillte also falls within the remit of the Department with the corporate governance duties in relation to Coillte undertaken by Forestry Division. The Division is also responsible for the implementation of EU Environmental Directives as they pertain to forests and forestry operations, and the development and drafting of the Forestry Programmes.
The Forestry Inspectorate is responsible for the professional technical assessment of all applications for afforestation, forest roading, felling, aerial fertilisation, etc., for implementing relevant measures (under various legislation) relating to forestry, forest protection and forest reproductive material. The Inspectorate issue Forest Fire Danger Notices and also advises on the development of policy, legislation and support measures.
This Division deals with forest sector development, including wood supply and demand, Ireland’s National Forest Inventory, wood product development, forest statistics, use and conservation of forest genetic resources, as well as climate change and renewable energy issues as they relate to forestry.
The Division also acts as secretariat to the COFORD Council, a representative body from the forest sector, which acts in an advisory capacity to the Department on the areas of forest sector development and research.
This Division is responsible for the implementation of EU market supports, organics and locally-led schemes in accordance with EU and national regulations in a manner which provides for an effective customer service and allowing for clear accountability.
These Divisions are responsible for developing policy in regard to agri-environment and on-farm investment schemes, implementing all related schemes including GLAS, TAMS II and the Calf Investment Scheme in accordance with EU and national regulations in a manner which provides for an effective customer service and allowing for clear accountability.
