Mr. Colm Hayes:

On Coillte licences, in terms of what is expected in the application and the manner in which it is treated in the Department, in the period of public consultation, the environmental assessment and the ultimate appeals window, there is no difference between a Coillte licence and a private licence in that respect. The onus on the company is the same as it is on any applicant. The onus in terms of the public consultation, the 14-day appeal window and the environmental assessment is the same. We do have a dedicated team at the moment looking at Coillte licences. We are at that point in the year when we are issuing a lot of Coillte licences in preparation for the end of year position, when it goes out to the market and sawmills.

We have dedicated teams for afforestation and private felling licences. The Secretary General stated at the start of the meeting that we have 27 ecologists now whereas two years ago, there mat have been two. We always trying to make maximum and most efficient use of our resources in order to drive output. It is something that is under continuous review.

There was a question around the processing of a licence and whether it is handled by one person the whole way through. Mr. Dunne is the chief inspector and may have a good insight into that.