There has been an almost 50% drop in afforestation programme payments in Kerry over a 12-year period.
That’s according to figure released by the Central Statistics Office.
It shows nationally, the main afforestation programme payments in 2022 were 43% lower than in 2010 – when over €108 million was paid.
The CSO’s Forestry Scheme Payments report for 2022, shows that €4.9 million of payments were paid in Kerry in the year.
This represents 8% of the total nationwide; and is a 49% drop on the 2010 figure - when €9.6 million in programme payments were made in the county.
In total, there were 10.5km of forest roads in Kerry in the year, up 0.3km on the year before; and a rise of 1.8km on the 2010 figure.
Nationally, Kerry accounted for 15% of forest road payments in 2022.
€400,000 in Forest Road payments were to the county; which is unchanged since 2019, and up from €300,000 in 2010.