Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The number of licences issued for felling in March and April this year was down by 25% compared with the same period last year. Whether it is afforestation licences, road-opening licences or felling licences, we are way behind target. Not only are we dealing with a crisis in the here and now with our timber industry, but we are facing a generational crisis with regard to afforestation. The Minister of State has set a target of 8,000 ha for planting. Last year, we were wildly off those targets. She has set a target of 8,000 ha this year. At present, less than 2,500 ha have been licensed. Do licences for afforestation include figures for replanting? In other words, when felling has taken place and it is replanted, is that included in the Minister of State's figures? That is not new forestry.

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