Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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221. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ecologists currently working on forestry licensing within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24476/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 14 full-time equivalent ecologists working on forestry licensing applications for the Department. These are a combination of permanent ecologists employed directly by the Department and ecologists contracted in from outside  This is a very significant increase in ecology resources and a heavy investment by my Department in response to current licencing issues and the need for greater ecological assessment of licences. This situation will be kept under review.