How much land has been licensed for afforestation since 2023?
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has outlined the number of forestry licences issued since 2023.
The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD for Cavan – Monaghan, Matt Carthy.
The number of hectares of land newly licensed for afforestation in the years 2023 to date, by quarter, in tabular form is set out below.
Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Yearly Total 2023 86 47 47 610.8 789 2024 945 1,173 1,573 1,155 4,844 2025 1,046 432 to date Hectares of land licensed for afforestation from 2023 – 2025
The number of felling licences issued in the years 2023 to date, by type, by quarter, in tabular form is set out below.
Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Yearly Total 2023 786 789 733 530 2,838 2024 496 452 631 392 1,971 2025 284 155 to date Felling licences issued 2023 – 2025
Below is the number of afforestation licences issued in the years 2023 – 2025.
Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Yearly Total 2023 4 5 4 75 88 2024 123 134 179 159 595 2025 132 57 to date Afforestation licences issued 2023 – 2025
Below is the number of roads licenses issued in the years 2023 – 2025.
Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Yearly Total 2023 22 50 86 85 243 2024 253 207 223 163 846 2025 142 85 to date Roads licences issued 2023 – 2025
According to Minister Heydon, there are currently an additional 4,490 hectares approved and ready for planting.
Minister Heydon said: 'The Minister of State, Michael Healy Rae will make contact with these landowners shortly by letter and encourage them to commence planting as soon as possible. This will be followed up by phone calls to a selection of licence holders.
'This is part of a comprehensive communications plan to promote the forestry options available to land owners under the very attractive forestry programme 23 – 27 using all channels of communication,' he added.
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