Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 December 2020
209. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if applicants in respect of forestry licences who submit a Natura impact statement can expect a speedier determination as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/20]
View answerThe Department has put in place a process for dealing with forestry licensing applications requiring ecology input. A dedicated project plan, using a systematic approach to processing the backlog of licences requiring an appropriate assessment (AA), prioritises cases where the applicant submits a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
On receipt of a satisfactory NIS, the length of time it would take to complete the AA process is estimated to be between two and three months. Licences normally issue in a matter of weeks after the ecologists complete their work.
