1,517 forestry licences were issued in the first six months of the year by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This represents an increase of 29% or 338 licences when compared to the same period in 2025 (1,179), driven by an increase in felling licences in the wake of Storms Éowyn and Darragh.

Up to last Friday (June 26), the department had issued 948 felling licences covering 10,898ha.

This is up from 643 felling licences approved in the first six months of 2025 for 7,698ha.

Of the felling licences granted so far this year, 611 were issued to private forestry owners, while 337 felling licences were granted for Coillte plantations.

The department has approved 23 applications under the Reconstitution Scheme for Windblow relating to 191ha.

Forestry licences

The latest data also shows that 229 afforestation licences had been issued this year for 1,909ha.

Over the same period last year, the department had issued 234 afforestation licences relating to 1,794ha.

864ha has been planted so far this year which reflects afforestation that has been paid at first grant stage this year to date only, including the Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS).

In the same period last year, 1,513 hectares had been planted.

So far this year, 340 licences have been issued for forestry roads covering 126km. The figures show that some 36km of roads have been constructed so far this year.

Since the start of the year, the department has received 1,618 valid licence applications.

This includes 197 applications for afforestation, 490 for private felling, 636 for Coillte felling, and 295 for forestry roads.

Appeals

According to the data, 28 appeals relating to afforestation have been lodged so far this year, along with 17 on tree felling, and 8 for forest roads.

DAFM confirmed that 219 applications have been approved this year for the Reconstitution of Ash Dieback Scheme, covering 668ha.

93 applications have been approved for the Woodland Improvement Scheme relating to 596ha.

65 approvals have issued for the NTAS covering 68ha, 68 for the Deer Tree Shelter Scheme (239ha) and 25 for the Climate Resilient Reforestation Scheme (129ha).

10 applications have issued under the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme in relation to 67ha.