Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

To address the Deputy's final point, afforestation is new areas and replanting is part of the felling and replanting option, so that is not afforestation, just reforestation. The afforestation levels that the Deputy quotes are correct. Past levels have been low. We have not attained the target of 8,000 ha under the climate action plan. I expect, unfortunately, that the levels of afforestation this year will be similar to last year. However, we hope that the trend will reverse with the work on Project Woodland and the co-ordinated approach to introduce more effective processes in the issuing of licences. We expect that initiative to operate well under Project Woodland. The January figures for licensing for felling were high. They may have dropped off in February and March. The licensing tends to be seasonal because you can only fell at certain times of the year. I agree that we need to have confidence injected into the sector, which is something I want to do.

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