Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will take cognisance of the fact that the private forestry sector is experiencing long delays in getting sites approved for planting; that planting can only occur in the dormant season therefore the operating season is very short and the delays that are having a detrimental effect on the work of the private forestry and nursery sector; if key personnel involved in the planting approval process have been transferred to other roles within his Department and have not been replaced; the action he plans to take to address the problem of long delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19622/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may note that there has been a significant increase in interest in afforestation this year. To the beginning of April there has been a 34% increase in the number of applications received by my Department for technical approval for planting as against the same period last year. Despite this increased workload, the applications are processed as quickly as possible and the number of applications approved has also increased over the same period last year. To date, an additional 800 hectares have been technically approved for planting in 2013 as compared to 2012. While there have been some issues associated with the availability of personnel, the matter has been addressed and all the relevant outstanding afforestation files are being cleared.