Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed within his Department with regard to forestry; if a breakdown of roles can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44357/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff employed by the Forestry Service; if he will provide a breakdown of roles and responsibilities within the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44358/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

The table below shows the current number of permanent staff working in all three forestry divisions in my Department, i.e., Forestry Division, Forest Sector Development (FSD) Division and Forestry Inspectorate Division (including ecology/archaeology).

Please note also that these staff are involved in all aspects of the forestry remit including licensing, promotion, forest health, payments, engagement at National, EU and international level on forestry policy issues and forest sector development. Changes in regulatory requirements in relation to forestry licensing has necessitated an increase in resources.

In addition to the permanent staff, there are currently 20 contract FTE ecologists working on forestry licences and forestry schemes.