Industry has welcomed a "significant increase" in the number of forestry licences issued.

This comes as Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) figures show 68 licences issued in the week to July 25.

This marks an increase on the 35 licences granted by department officials in the week previous, ending July 18.

According to the latest figures, published by the department, 35 of the licences issued last week related to felling, with 33 for private forestry owners and two for Coillte plantations.

There were 28 licences issued for forest roads last week and five for afforestation.

So far this year, up to July 25, DAFM has issued 549 private felling licences, and 192 Coillte felling licences.

The department has received so far this year 732 valid applications for private felling licences, and 514 for Coillte felling licences.

For afforestation, the department has issued 257 licences of a total of 258 applications received.

A total of 1,738ha of forestry has been planted so far this year, with the highest amount planted in April (378ha).

The Social, Economic, and Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) said that last week saw a "significant increase in forestry licensing, as road and felling licensing soared up into sustainable levels".

"The 33 private felling licenses issued last week represent the highest level achieved in some time and are welcomed in a time when much timber is available to harvest," SEEFA said.

"The 28 road licenses issued are also significant, as this number better represents the industry's actual requirements, and it is the highest number issued in a single week for quite some time."

SEEFA added that afforestation licensing remains low and "needs to be addressed, with forestry promotion remaining a priority".