Coillte hoping to shake off licensing crisis and return to growth next year

The lack of approved forestry licences resulted in supply shortages and a consequent decline in sales

The backlog in the Department of Agriculture's forestry licensing system impacted Coillte's earnings and revenues last year.

State forestry company Coillte is targeting a return to normal operating cycles by the end of this year, and a resolution to the forestry licensing crisis which led to a 36% drop in its 2020 earnings.

The company reported earnings of €66m for 2020, compared to a €103m profit in 2019; while revenues fell from €327m to €285m last year.