Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State stated that applicants would not necessarily be given a two-year felling licence unless they intended to fell within those two years but I have been contacted by applicants who do not intend to fell within two years, yet were given a two-year licence. That needs to be considered. The standard licence is for ten years. It is important that be in place and that farmers and forest owners have clarity in that regard. That will feed into what it is hoped will be a much more successful forestry programme than we have had to date and ensure we have buy-in from forest owners and farmers, which will be very important.

Does the Minister of State have an update on the new forestry programme? When does she expect it to be approved? It is important that we have the detail in that regard.

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