852. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish his licensing and scheme approval plan for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44771/24]

853. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will review performance versus plan in relation to his licence plan for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44772/24]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 852 and 853 together.

My Department will publish the Forestry Licensing Plan for 2025 early in the new year. This plan for 2025 will also include a review of 2024, and will outline the estimated number of applications received and the target applications to be licensed versus what actually was received in 2024 and what was output in terms of licences issued.

So far this year, we are processing more licences than applications received, and this is the case for each of the licence types, felling afforestation and forest roads. My Department received 2,735 licence applications and has issued 2,936 licences to 25th October 2024.

I believe we have the capacity to issue sufficient licences to meet the annual target of 8,000 hectares of new forests. This is however contingent on receiving enough applications to achieve this goal. Since the Forestry Programme was launched in September 2023 my Department has issued over 6,900 hectares of afforestation licences and approvals.