Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if applicants in respect of forestry licences who submit a Natura impact statement can expect a speedier determination as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has put in place a process for dealing with forestry licensing applications requiring ecology input. A dedicated project plan, using a systematic approach to processing the backlog of licences requiring an appropriate assessment (AA), prioritises cases where the applicant submits a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).

On receipt of a satisfactory NIS, the length of time it would take to complete the AA process is estimated to be between two and three months. Licences normally issue in a matter of weeks after the ecologists complete their work.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce mandatory timeframes in respect of the process and determination of forestry licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40700/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware that current timescales for the determination and issue of forestry licences are not in line with expected norms. These delays have arisen because of significant changes introduced in the Department's appropriate assessment process, as a result of European Court of Justice cases and their subsequent interpretation by the courts and the Forestry Appeals Committee.

My Department's overall approach to tackling the backlog of applications is subject to continuous improvement and review with the aim of increasing the output of licences on a weekly basis. At the beginning of the year, there were just two ecologists working on the backlog of applications referred to ecology but this figure is now sixteen. Additional forestry inspectors have also been hired to support this work.

This delivered increased output in October and November compared to other months this year. While this still has some considerable way to go, I am encouraged by this progress and intend to sustain and build on this output of licences issued each week.

I am taking the current issues in the forestry sector extremely seriously. It is an absolute key priority for me and the rest of the Department.