Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in relation to a felling licence application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway, given observations from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland were submitted to his Department over a month and a half ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17901/24]
View answerAs per the answer provided to Dáil question 931 on 9 April 2024, as regards the felling license application referred to (TFL00162718), my Department continues to engage proactively with the applicant and his representatives. This is a very complex location with a number of ecological concerns which must be carefully considered. There have been a number of changes made to the initial application on foot of environmental concerns raised by my Department and an updated Natura Impact Statement (NIS), Harvest Plan and other documents were submitted at the end of December 2023.
Upon receipt of these documents, they were issued to both National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for consideration. Observations were received from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on the 12/02/2024, while Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) issued their observations on the 01/03/2024.
The observations received from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are currently being considered. It is expected that the required Appropriate Assessment report and determination will be complete this week. The application in its totality, along with the ecological assessments, can then be considered and a final decision on the application made in the coming weeks
