‘Intensive effort’ in coming weeks to prioritise issuing of afforestation licences

"We continue to process files faster than the rate of files being received and the backlog of files is continuing to steadily reduce."

In the 12 months from September 2021 to the end of September 2022, the department has delivered 5,000 total licences.

An “intensive effort” will be made over the coming weeks to prioritise the issuing of afforestation licences with an aim of clearing older files ahead of the new forestry programme, according to the Department of Agriculture.

There is an overall “significant increase” across all licensing categories so far this year compared with last year, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has said.