Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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597. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a union dispute in the forestry section of his Department is affecting the licensing process, or whether it is resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15252/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to meeting the Farmers' Charter timelines for the processing of all forestry applications, namely, that applications will be completed within six months in the case of files screened out from environmental assessment, and within nine months in the case of those screened in for environmental assessment.

My Department has issued 527 licences so far this year. Last week, the total issued was 49, which was comprised of 16 private felling licences, 11 Coillte felling licences, three road licences and 19 afforestation licences.

As part of its continuing efforts to further improve the licensing process, my Department is engaging with staff and union representatives to bring greater efficiency to the way in which applications by private landowners for felling licenses are processed. This work is ongoing.