Houses of the Oireachtas

Committee on Agriculture and the Marine Issues impacting the Forestry Sector in Ireland.

The forestry sector is an integral part of rural communities around Ireland and helps rural life thrive. It supports local economies, provides employment opportunities and public recreational amenities.

Currently it provides in the region of 12,000 jobs in rural communities.

There has been a steady decline and pressure in the sector due a rapidly changing environment characterised, not least, by significant changes in the licensing system. Publication of the Mackinnon Report and the commitments in the Programme for Government signalled a strategic approach to reform and support this sector. Forestry is a national resource to be proud of and needs to be nurtured. The Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine (“the Committee”) believed that it was necessary to examine the challenges facing the forestry sector to identify key issues.

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