Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the need to strengthen tree protection measures will be considered particularly in urban areas in view of the very weak protective measures available at present. [36182/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Section 205 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 strengthened the powers of planning authorities to issue tree preservation orders, which in their opinion are required in the interests of amenity or the environment. These orders, inter alia, can place a prohibition on the cutting down or removal of trees or can require the owner or occupier of land to work with the planning authority to ensure the proper management of specific trees.

It is also open to planning authorities to protect trees through the planning control system when dealing with applications for development in sites containing trees. Having regard to this extensive range of powers, there are no proposals to amend the legislation in this regard.