The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) is welcoming the appointment of Michael Healy-Rae as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) with special responsibility for forestry.

The independent Kerry TD was recently confirmed as one of the 23 junior ministers in the new government.

The 58-year-old was first elected to Kerry County Council in 1999 and won the Dáil seat vacated by his father Jackie Healy-Rae in 2011.

In welcoming the new appointment, SEEFA said that Minister Healy-Rae's "longstanding engagement with forestry issues, including recent advocacy on licensing backlogs, shows his readiness to tackle the sector's serious challenges".

The association said that Ireland’s forestry industry has "declined" over the past decade, "with significant barriers preventing us from meeting planting targets".

"Last year, only 1,573 hectares were planted against an 8,000-hectare target, marking one of the lowest years in recent memory.

"The consequences of this shortfall cannot be overstated, as forestry is a cornerstone for job creation, rural development, carbon sequestration, and social well-being in Ireland. It is also central to achieving the government’s climate and biodiversity objectives," SEEFA said.

The association is urging the new government to "seize this opportunity to reinvigorate the forestry sector".

"By providing the necessary resources and prioritising coherent policy initiatives, we can restore public confidence, create green jobs, and make significant strides toward our shared vision of a growing, sustainable forestry industry.

"SEEFA stands ready to work in partnership with Minister Healy-Rae and the new government to help realise this vision.

"SEEFA looks forward to collaborating closely with Minister Healy-Rae to address the core challenges we face today," the group added.