Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in the Forest Service of his Department who are employed to deliver/process licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37886/23]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1285. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of people in the Forest Service of his Department employed to deliver just 52 licences during the second week of August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1279 and 1285 together.

The table below shows the current number of permanent staff working in all three forestry divisions in my Department i.e. Forestry Division, Forest Sector Development (FSD) Division and Forestry Inspectorate Division (including ecology/archaeology).

Please note also that these staff are involved in all aspects of the forestry remit including licensing, promotion, forest health, payments, engagement at National, EU and international level on forestry policy issues and forest sector development. Changes in regulatory requirements in relation to forestry licensing has necessitated an increase in resources.

As regards licence issue in the first week of August, this is a result of being unable to issue grant-aided forest road or afforestation licences as we awaited full and final approval to the new Forestry Programme 2023 -2027, including State Aid approval from the European Commission and the conclusion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment processes. I am pleased to say that the Programme has now been approved by Government and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications. Felling licences continue to issue as normal.