Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has concerns that schemes coming under the Common Agricultural Policy might incentivise recipients to remove trees from their land in order to qualify for said schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18337/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Forestry Act 1946 prohibits the felling of trees without a licence. The illegal removal of trees may result in substantial fines and prosecution. Furthermore, depending on the age of the plantation and whether or not it was grant aided, all premium payments and grants paid will be recovered in full by the Department for the area in which the trees were felled. The financial consequences of removing trees illegally are very much dependent on the area cleared. However, regardless of the area felled, I do not believe that qualification criteria for CAP schemes incentivises farmers to remove trees.