Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2021

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Questions (524)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

524. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Coillte licences, on average, that an ecologist processes in a week; the number of private licences, on average, that an ecologist processes in a week for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27459/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department currently has 21 full-time equivalent ecologists deployed to deal with all forestry licence applications, both Coillte and private. From January to end April 2021, 732 forestry licences have been issued, following input by ecologists. The average output per week is therefore 43.