David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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580. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences currently awaiting decision in each county; the number of forest road licence applications currently awaiting decision in each county; the number of tree felling licence applications currently awaiting decision in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36012/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 75% on 2020. To 30^thJune, over 39% of that target has issued, with 105 licences issuing last week, including 67 private tree felling licences.

In terms of afforestation, the Department has issued more licences than at the same time last year, which are for a land area that is 20% greater in hectares. Forestry road licences have already surpassed the target of 125km as indicated in the Climate Action Plan, 2019 at 149km of roads licensed this year.

The breakdown of applications awaiting decision in each county is included below: