Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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572.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the backlog in afforestation licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24819/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department published a Forestry Licencing Plan in December 2023 which outlines our strong commitment to issuing licences in 2024. The Plan estimates that we will issue 4,200 new forestry licences of all types in 2024, which includes 1,000 afforestation licences, This is however contingent on receiving enough applications to achieve this goal. We are working towards the priorities outlined in the Plan and we are committed to reducing turn around times for all schemes to six months for screen out files and nine months for files screened in for appropriate assessment.

It is also worth noting that 3,915 ha's have been approved for planting under Afforestation Schemes since the commencement of the current Forestry Programme. To date in 2024 we have received 345 valid afforestation applications and approved 218 afforestation licences for 1,817 ha. In addition, 223 approvals for the Native Tree Area scheme have issued.