Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2019
476. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ecologists employed in the forestry inspectorate by grade; and the targeted number of new ecologists to be hired; and the date on which the new hires will be operational. [47089/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has two ecologists in the Forestry Inspectorate. In respect of grades, one is a Forestry Inspector, Grade 1 (Regional Forestry Inspector), the other is Ecologist, Grade 3.
Sanction was recently obtained to hold a competition to recruit further ecological resources. Interviews for this competition will be held in December, from which a panel will be formed. It is intended that two ecologists will be immediately deployed to the Forestry Inspectorate. Every effort will be made to ensure an early operational start date thereafter.
