Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a permit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [11578/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The applicant submitted a felling licence application, no. GFL12173, which was received by the Forest Service on 6 March 2012. In his report on 25 May 2012, the District Inspector recommended refusal of the licence because the plantation is not ready for thinning and there was a high risk of wind-throw. Following discussions between the Inspector and the applicant’s forester, on 7 August 2012 the applicant was asked to provide a wind-throw hazard risk assessment and a mitigation plan to offset any risk. To date, the Forest Service has received no reply. However, the applicant submitted a second felling licence application, no. GFL12488, which was received by the Forest Service on 10 May 2012. This second application appears to be for the same site as that applied for under GFL12173 but with a different age profile for the trees to be felled. On this basis, the Forest Service is currently clarifying the situation with GFL12488.