Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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265. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forestry Appeals Committee has now set up multiple divisions to hear appeals; if not, when it will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31980/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional personnel have taken up their roles in the Forestry Appeals Committee; if not, when they will be in a position to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31981/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new persons that are being appointed to the Forestry Appeals Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31992/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Forestry Appeals Committee appeal hearings scheduled for October, November and December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31994/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the current backlog of 500 appeals is expected to be cleared by the Forestry Appeals Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31996/20]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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270. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forestry Appeals Committee has now set up multiple divisions to hear appeals; if not, when it will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31997/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 270, inclusive, together.

The implementation of the provisions of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act is a top priority and my Department is working hard to ensure that it is given full effect. The SIs introduced immediately on foot of the legislation have immediately implemented the provisions related to the introduction of fees and new working arrangements for the FAC.

I have also made additional appointments to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC).  Two Deputy Chairpersons and two Ordinary Members have been appointed.  In addition to this, two additional personnel with planning expertise have been contracted to the FAC. These are being supplemented through the provision of additional administrative staff.

The FAC is operationally independent of my Department and as such, the establishing of divisions of the FAC is a matter for the Committee, as is the scheduling of appeal hearings. They will be in direct contact with appellants and applicants when additional hearings are being scheduled.