Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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353. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree health reports compiled by arborists or tree surgeons that were examined by the Forest Service before issuing licences to cut dangerous trees during the same period, from 20 December to date; the number of these tree health reports that were requested by the Forest Service before issuing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20348/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department received one tree health report as supporting documentation for a tree felling licence to fell storm damaged trees. This report was duly examined and a general felling licence issued. It is not Department policy to put additional costs and an extra administrative burden on felling licence applicants by requesting such reports when Forest Service Inspectors are fully qualified to assess the need and justification for a felling licence. The Department is the competent authority for regulating tree felling and licences are issued by my Department based on assessments by Forest Service Inspectors – such assessments may or may not be aided by arborist or tree surgeon reports, or other supporting documentation.