Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2021
186. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licence applications returned to applicants in 2021 for further information; the year the applications were submitted; the reason such applications were not returned for further information in a more timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60642/21]
View answerWhile my Department issues further information requests as and when required on individual applications and keeps a record of each request on the individual file, information on the number issued is not readily available from the IFORIS system.
Statistics are available for a specific triage exercise recently carried out on both forest roads and private tree felling licence applications awaiting assessment by an ecologist. As regards roads, 88 further information requests issued to which we received a good response.
A batch of further information requests on felling applications issued at the end of June on 420 applications. Approximately half of these requests remained unanswered. Reminders issued week ending 5th November for 234 of the initial 420 and we would encourage all applicants and their foresters to respond immediately.
