A total of 84 incidents of alleged illegal forestry (AIF) have been reported so far this year, resulting in 65 investigations and eight replanting orders totaling 33.93 hectares.
These figures were recently provided by Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Martin Haydon in response to a question from Longford-Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke.
Sinn Féin TD has asked the Minister to provide information on enforcement actions taken in cases of illegal logging.
She also asked about the extent of deforestation in the state in the past five years. Number of hectares of forest cleared annually; The main causes of deforestation.
Representative Clark also asked what measures are being implemented to protect local forests and increase afforestation rates.
Minister Haydon He responded: “Forestry in Ireland operates within a legal and regulatory framework, and my department acts on non-compliance, including deforestation.
“Cutting trees requires obtaining a licence, with an obligation to replant them, and cutting trees without a license is an offense under Section 26 of the Forestry Act.”
Replanting orders are “the primary method used, alongside prosecutions for non-compliance with the Forestry Act, to ensure that replanting obligations are met,” the minister said.
“The EU deforestation regulation also aims to prevent products from deforested areas from being put on the market,” he added.
Alleged illegal forestry
The Minister shared a table of the number of incidents of alleged illegal forestry reported and action taken since 2021.
He added that his ministry “follows up on all reports related to deforestation, but all reports may not lead to legal action.”
| year | Number of AIFs reported | Number of investigations | Number of prosecutions | Number of replanting orders issued | Area (ha) |
| 2021 | 89 | 18 | 0 | 18 | unavailable |
| 2022 | 151 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 45.30 |
| 2023 | 196 | 142 | 2 | 30 | 50.80 |
| 2024 | 176 | 138 | 3 | 14 | 25.13 |
| 2025 | 157 | 104 | 2 | 3 | 44.28 |
| 2026 | 84 | 65 | 0 | 8 | 33.93 |
The Minister went on to set out the expected harvest for each year since 2021 according to the latest Council for Forestry Research and Development (COFORD) report on roundwood production across Ireland.
He said: “It should be noted that all harvested areas must be replanted within the conditions of the cutting license.”
| year | Special dilutions (ha) | Clairville own (ha) | Coillte dilution (ha) | Clairville Forest (ha) | Total area (ha) |
| 2021 | 9,097 | 3,245 | 16,448 | 5,863 | 34,653 |
| 2022 | 11,124 | 3,539 | 16,448 | 5,863 | 36,974 |
| 2023 | 12,577 | 4,914 | 16,448 | 5,863 | 39802 |
| 2024 | 12,043 | 4,652 | 16,448 | 5,863 | 39,006 |
| 2025 | 13,100 | 5,105 | 16,448 | 5,863 | 40,516 |
| 2026 | 19,022 | 5,476 | 15,125 | 5,863 | 45,486 |
“However, my ministry’s logging and reforestation policy specifies scenarios in which deforestation could be permanently cleared, such as to support renewable energy projects, or where there are overriding environmental considerations,” the minister said.
“To help promote broadleaf, targets for broadleaf have been increased along with a significant increase in premiums, when a native forest is established.
“In addition, the Native Tree Areas Scheme facilitates small-scale farming. Finally, the Native Forest Conservation Scheme provides financial support for the proper management of existing native forests.”
The minister said landowners who planted conifers who want to replant them with native trees must apply to the climate-resilient reforestation plan.
Sitka spruce
Separately, Minister Haydon recently answered a query about the Sitka Spruce from Wicklow-Oxford Fine Gael TD Martin Brennan.
Rep. Brennan asked about the area Sitka spruce Cultivated compared to those of broadleaf and cultivated native conifers
“In terms of area, there has been a 95% decline in Sitka spruce plantings from 12,970 hectares in 1993 to 701 hectares in 2025,” Minister Haydon added.
He added that in 2025, “nearly two-thirds (65.9%) of the area is afforested with broadleaf trees, most of which are native broadleaf trees.”
