"Significant progress" is being made in approving felling licence applications which have windblow issues, according to Minister of State with special responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae.

Minister Healy-Rae said that of the 666 applications for clearfell received, 194 have been approved.

480 of these were fresh applications received post-storm damage in 2025.

"Of those applications which were with my department before the storms hit, 128 of the 186 have already been approved," the minister said in an update.

"New clearfell applications with a storm damage element are being approved in around 100 days, less than four months, well within the Farmers' Charter targets."

Minister Healy-Rae added that felling applications with windblow issues that have been notified to his department are "being prioritised - including those which have been appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee".

"I will continue to work with the department and all stakeholders on the Windblow Taskforce to ensure that progress continues to be made on this issue," the minister added.

An action plan is currently being worked on by the taskforce to identify issues, bottlenecks and proposed solutions, the Department of Agriculture said.

Currently 65% of the windblown area has a felling licence, with an additional 11% with applications in the system, which are being prioritised.

Regarding the other 24%, the department is now writing to these last remaining 24% to encourage them to submit an application, it said.