Thousand of forestry jobs at risk, warns Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it is 'not an exaggeration to say' the forestry industry, which employs 12,000 people nationwide, is 'in crisis'.

Thousands of jobs in the forestry industry are now at risk and timber stocks may be depleted by November, the Dáil has heard.

An "overwhelming" backlog in dealing with objections has lead to a "crisis" which has drastically curtailed the number of trees that are being both planted and felled the Taoiseach has said.