Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

453. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if she will provide an update on the forestry licensing plan for the remainder of 2023 and 2024, given indications in October that the plan is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52262/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Forestry Programme 2023 -2027 has been approved by Government, and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications, and existing applications are being migrated over to this scheme as the applicants opt in. My Department has begun to issue afforestation and roads licences under the new Programme, while felling licences continued and continue to issue as normal.

Given we are now in a position to issue all licences, the publication of a new Forestry Licensing Plan can be expected immediately in the next week.