Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of windblow-related felling licences received since Storm Éowyn; the current processing times for these types of licences and the priority given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13740/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I am more than aware of the devastation that Storm Éowyn has caused to forest owners throughout the country and understand their need to clear wind-blown sites. More than 63% of affected forests have licences in place already, with another 11% in the system prioritised for processing. I would encourage those remaining 25% of affected forest owners to engage with their foresters and to submit a licence application to my Department as soon as possible where it will be prioritised.

We have received 96 windblow-related felling applications since the storm hit. We are prioritising these and working with stream-lined processes and extra resources so that they will be issued as speedily as possible. This will allow forest owners to plan for the harvest and sale of their timber and to think about replanting.