Ms Bernie Gray:

There are two issues with the felling licences. One is the length of time it takes to grant a felling licence. The second is the process for hearing appeals and the number of appeals that arise, to which the Deputy has referred. Both parts of the process have to be in sync and be robust. However, there are delays with both parts of the process. It is impacting on everyone, including Coillte, and the Department is very aware of it. It is in everyone's interests to fix that issue. We are trying to get over the immediate hump, but we also have to make sure that, going forward, the process deals with both the granting of licences on the one hand and the appeals on the other.