Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
705. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of forestry owned by individual farmers, private companies, Coillte and any other entities that was clear felled between 2020 and 2025. [16913/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFelling licences that are issued by my Department do not normally require the licensee to notify the Department as to when a clearfell has been carried out and therefore my Department does not hold the specific information requested.
However, indicative figures are available.
The ‘All-Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2021-2040’ published by COFORD in 2021 provides indicative figures for the potential annual supply of timber over the period 2021 to 2040 for the private sector, Coillte and in Northern Ireland. The forecast is published approximately every five years. See data below taken from Table 8 of this publication.
Annual Forecast of harvest area by clearfell from COFORD report
|
Year |
Private Sector – Ireland (ha) |
Private Sector Northern Ireland (ha) |
Coillte (ha) |
Northern Ireland Forest Service (ha) |
|
Year |
Private Sector – Ireland (ha) |
Private Sector Northern Ireland (ha) |
Coillte (ha) |
Northern Ireland Forest Service (ha) |
|
2021 |
3245 |
54 |
5836 |
901 |
|
2022 |
3539 |
54 |
5863 |
901 |
|
2023 |
4914 |
54 |
5863 |
901 |
|
2024 |
4652 |
54 |
5863 |
901 |
|
2025 |
5105 |
54 |
5863 |
901 |
COFORD is an advisory body to my Department and reports are prepared with the input of the forest sector and relevant stakeholders.
