Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----serial objectors across the board and this impacted on confidence in the forestry sector. A new strategy is being worked on by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. That strategy is nearing completion. Hopefully, we will be in a position to publish it very shortly. Meanwhile, huge resources have gone into the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which has issued 3,914 licences, or 92% of the projected average at this point in the year. There are about 7,000 ha ready for planting. There are currently 953 approved afforestation licences. The backlog was reduced from 6,000 in August 2021 to 3,700 in January of this year. It now stands at 1,639. Much work has happened since we came in. We brought in legislation. We need to drive on and get more trees planted.

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