Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Questions (1112)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1112. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 2011 and 2012 of 24 March 2021, if any licence that was appealed and went to the Forestry Appeals Committee has been either set aside, cancelled or sent back to the Forestry Service due to the fact that a Forestry Service inspectorate had carried out the screening process and was not carried out by a qualified ecologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21148/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I understand the FAC has never cancelled, set-aside or remitted a licence on the grounds that a Forestry Inspector rather than an ecologist carried out the screening.

To assist in screening for appropriate assessment, Forestry Inspectors use a Standard Operational Procedures document and other documents produced with ecologist input.