Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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439. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a afforestation licence application (details supplied) will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8333/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has received a number of applications for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme for the forest owner mentioned, three of which are currently being processed.

A request for further information was issued for one application last September. If the applicant wishes to progress this application, that information will be required before any further action can be taken.

For the remaining two applications, assets have been identified on or near the proposed sites that warranted inspection by my Department’s Archaeologist. The Archaeologist has examined both files, prepared draft archaeological conditions and referred these, as per the statutory requirement, with relevant details of the applications to the National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, for a final opinion/advice. A response is awaited.

Once these reports are finalised, the files will be returned to the District Inspector, who will make final recommendations that will inform the decision on the two cases. These decisions will be communicated to the applicant and their registered forester.