Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
624. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the practical experience that is required by an ecologist before they can start vetting forestry licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32995/21]
View answerFrom time to time, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recruit ecologists and these are deployed into various Divisions of the Department.
The most recent competition required a relevant degree at Level eight and at least 18 months satisfactory work experience as a professional ecologist, including assessing and evaluating biodiversity issues, such experience having been gained after attaining their Level 8 qualification. Experience gained while working for a post-graduate qualification, or while undertaking post-doctoral research, may, if relevant, count towards this requirement.
Ecologists that are recruited through this process and who deal with forestry files receive on-the-job training and supervision in relation to dealing with the ecological aspects of forestry files.
