It is hard to put into words the importance of Merlin Woods for the community in which I live. It is one of the only green spaces on the east side of Galway city. It is surrounded by Doughiska and Ballybane, and slightly further on are Renmore, Mervue and Roscam, all of which are areas that have benefited from that green space. To be honest, it is actually hard to understand or fathom in any way why these woods - this local amenity - are being destroyed in the way that they are.

Friends of Merlin Woods have campaigned and worked not only to protect the woods over a long number of years, but also to ensure they have become the heart of the community. This has meant that young children and adults have learned about the biodiversity in the area. It has brought people together in the summer but also in the winter through the "hearth of winter" celebrations. Courses happen in Merlin Woods. They are also a place for people to go. So many people have been in contact with me in the past number of weeks to tell me they use it as a place of reflection which has particularly helped them through difficult times in their lives. It is a really crucial piece of the architecture of the community on the east side of Galway city. I say that to give the Minister of State the context for what is happening in Merlin Woods at the moment.

I want to raise some very specific questions with the Minister of State. Merlin Woods is a local biodiversity area under the Galway City Council development plan, and is protected under it. It may also be seen under Article 10 of the European habitats directive as being a stepping stone with its proximity to the SAC areas and creating a connection and widening the genetic links. In this context, I have to ask some questions. In what way does the work in Merlin Woods align with the national biodiversity action plan of no net loss? In some of the areas where trees have been felled, is there an account of how many dreys were found? Dreys are where squirrels live. How many of these dreys were saved from cutting? Red squirrels are protected under the Wildlife Act. While mitigating measures were put in place to feed squirrels and create corridors after the fact, the destruction of their dreys could be seen as a wildlife crime. How many visits has an ecologist paid to this site? Residents have reported that trees have been felled where they feel they did not have the oversight needed. In the general areas where the squirrel dreys were meant to be, they saw that too. What other mitigating measures were put in place for other wildlife such as insects and invertebrates, marsh fritillary butterflies and the many other species of butterfly?

The Minister of State may not have all the answers to these questions, but I am interested to hear what the Department and the line Minister have provided in the response. That will be very critical for the people who are trying to protect Merlin Woods. It is also critical that all these questions be brought directly to the Minister responsible. An exact response is needed as soon as possible. This is happening right now. We cannot have a situation where I get a response two or three weeks later. We need to ensure this area is protected for wildlife but also for the people of the east side of Galway city.

I thank the Deputy for her Topical Issue. I am here today on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, who are in Brussels on EU Presidency business, to address the associated felling licence process. I hope the response will provide an element of clarity. I will, of course, put the questions the Deputy has placed to the Minister and the Minister of State, and ask for an answer to be directed to her as quickly as possible.

Merlin Park in Galway city, as the Deputy has outlined, is one of the largest urban woodlands in Ireland, extending to approximately 80 ha of native and exotic trees, wildflowers, birds and mammals. From recent press announcements, the Government is aware that the owner of the woodlands, Galway City Council, is implementing plans to replant Merlin Woods as a native woodland, following the extensive damage caused by Storm Éowyn in January 2025. I commend Galway City Council on actively developing this woodland. The management of the woodland is a matter for the council, under the oversight of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I am aware that the council is planning to fell trees in the park. As Deputies might know, the felling of trees normally requires a licence issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in accordance with requirements set out in the Forestry Act 2014. However, on this occasion, the council was not required to obtain a tree-felling licence because the Forestry Act contains an exemption from the requirement to have a tree-felling licence for trees in an "urban area". This means that Galway City Council is entitled to fell trees in the urban areas which are part of its remit without having to notify the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In fact, I have been informed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that the Department has not received or issued any applications for felling licences to Galway City Council in relation to the Merlin Woods park area so far. In addition, the Department has confirmed that the trees in the Merlin Woods park are part of an "urban area" and comply with the exemption from the requirement to have a tree-felling licence, as provided for under section 19 of the Forestry Act 2014. This exemption is important because it allows local authorities to have full control over the urban areas they are responsible for.

It is also important to note that irrespective of any felling licence requirement, the provisions of the Planning and Development Act and regulations do apply. More generally, unless an exemption applies, the purpose for the requirement for obtaining a licence for tree felling is necessary in order to protect forests, and also to ensure forestry operations and activities are carried out in compliance with the principles of sustainable forest management. Tree-felling licences normally carry an obligation to replant the area felled. Reforestation after felling is essential to prevent deforestation, which would otherwise counteract the benefits of Ireland's afforestation programme and associated public expenditure on afforestation, which to date represents a substantial State and European Union investment.

I believe that forestry plays a critical role in meeting climate targets, supporting rural employment and providing a domestic supply of timber products. Well-managed forests contribute to biodiversity, water quality and protection of soil as well as providing a recreational amenity for communities. I do not think the passive educational opportunities provided by these areas, as the Deputy outlined, can be overstated. The same applies to their importance to local communities and the wider population. Therefore, while this appears to be largely a matter for Galway City Council, the questions the Deputy put to the Minister are valid and I will ensure a speedy response to her in due course.

I appreciate that. I appreciate that the Minister of State is not the line Minister and that it is quite a specific case, but the reason I raise it here is because the people have not been silent in relation to this. The community has not been silent about it. The people who deal with Merlin Woods day in, day out have been saying they feel this is a serious destruction of the habitat, as I have outlined, and of many different species. They have spoken about the serious impact it has on wildlife. The Minister of State mentioned that there was not a requirement for a tree-felling licence but the works at Merlin Woods must follow environmental laws, even if there are exemptions. From my understanding, it seems that there is no funding in place at the moment for the replanting. That is another question that needs to be answered by the Minister.

The question of a clean-up on foot of Storm Éowyn is separate to what I have raised. In this instance, the felling of healthy, standing trees is having a serious impact. It is a serious concern. In addition to the protest outside Galway City Council, we have had protest walks through Merlin Woods because the community has stated very clearly that this is destruction of wildlife. These are people who know what they are talking about. They know this woodland. They have been photographing it for years on end and know exactly what has been there and what is being destroyed. I understand the Minister of State is not the line Minister, but I have raised this as a Topical Issue for the Minister in question to respond. I understand there will be another response from the Minister, but he needs to respond urgently.

I accept the Deputy's requests but I will point out two things that I think are important in order to be helpful. It is important a separate question be put to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as the management of woodland is a matter for him. Felling licences come under the Department of agriculture. This is exempt from a felling licence, as I laid out in the previous reply, but the management is perhaps a more pertinent issue, given the concerns raised by the Deputy and the community at large. The Deputy has asked some clear questions that I will pass on to the Minister. I will stress the need for expediency. One of them would have been here but, unfortunately, both were required to chair meetings in Brussels. We will proceed with that going forward.