The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 50 forestry licences over the course of last week.

That marks a decrease from the 60 licences granted during the previous week.

Of the 50 licences issued last week, 31 (62%) were related to felling, with 21 of the licences for private felling and the remainder for Coillte plantations.

Up to last Friday (June 20), DAFM issued 429 private felling licences and a further 172 for felling at Coillte sites in 2025.

The combined felling licences issued cover a total of 7,322ha.

The department has received 596 valid applications for private felling so far this year and 514 for Coillte felling.

Last week, there were 10 afforestation licences issued by DAFM, up from seven in the previous week.

227 afforestation licences for 1,747ha have been issued by the department, with 211 applications submitted.

A total of 1,421ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, with 178ha of that planted so far in June.

DAFM noted that the figures for afforestation planted in 2025 reflect afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Area Tree Scheme (NTAS).

Nine of the licences issued last week were for roads, bringing the total issued so far this year to 292 for 100km of forestry roads. 41km of roads have been constructed so far in 2025.

The latest data also shows that DAFM has issued 133 licences for the NTAS (144ha) and 23 licences for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme, covering 133ha.

There have been 247 licences issued by the department so far this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, relating to 804ha.

66 licences have been granted for the Woodland Improvement Scheme (347ha) and 74 for the Deer Tree Shelter scheme (365ha).

Three licences have been issued for the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme this year for 19ha.

The department has received 26 afforestation appeals, and 12 each for tree felling and forestry roads.

Earlier this week, DAFM announced the results of the 2025/2026 open call for proposals for forestry promotion projects.

According to the department, 48 projects were selected for funding, adding up to a total amount of €1.53 million over two years.

Projects that will receive funding include a forestry village at the national ploughing championships, promotion of agroforestry and continuous cover forestry, forestry as a career option, and a year-long promotional campaign titled ‘there is a forestry project for you’.

Funding will also support a continuous professional development model on the use of timber in construction, exploring barriers to women’s participation in forestry, and forest and timber certification.

Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Michael Healy-Rae welcomed the collaboration between the department and industry stakeholders.