Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will get the information on turnaround times to the Deputy. I do not have that specific detail to hand. There has been significant improvement in the turnaround times, which is welcome. I acknowledge the concerns and frustrations of forest owners in recent years at having to wait too long, quite frankly, for their licences. The work that has been done in my Department in the past two years, however, has significantly improved that.

As regards two-year licences, licences are issued based on the requirements of the licence. They can be for up to ten years. If applicants indicate that they intend to fell within a year or so, they will only get a two-year licence, but they can engage with their registered forester if they need an extension to the licence that has been granted. We engage closely with foresters in that regard. If a licence needs to be extended, applicants should engage with their forester and seek that extension.

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