Written answer
Forestry Sector
Felling generally requires a licence, with reforestation rules applying; the Department will review the case and respond to the landowner.
789. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a forest (details supplied). [73759/26]
Comment on this
My Department administers a felling licence system whereby the felling of trees generally requires a licence, as per Section 7 of the Forestry Act 2014.
Reforestation after felling is essential to prevent deforestation, which, amongst other things, would counteract the benefits of Ireland’s afforestation programme and associated public expenditure on afforestation.
My Department’s ‘Felling and Reforestation Policy’ (2017) document sets out the procedures and requirements where conversion to agriculture is being proposed. Table 5 and section 5.7 of the document identifies where grants and premiums are to be repaid and where alternative lands are required.
My Department also notes that the EU Deforestation Regulation 23/1115 entered into force in June 2023.
Within the context of the above, my Department will re-examine all the details of this particular case and will revert to the landowner as soon as possible.