Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

432. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 634 of 1 December 2015 and the reply to the question (details supplied), if she received the report; if so, when she will publish it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34483/16]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Officials of my Department visited the site in question and met with relevant individuals late last year and subsequently reported on the matter. Targeted tree planning has been carried out at the site - originally a plantation which had become neglected over the past 25 years - as part of a ten year management plan for the woodland to encourage natural regeneration. The activities undertaken were carried out under license from the Forest Service and the works have been assessed and approved by my Department. The felling included a thinning out process to encourage continuous woodland cover and natural regeneration. Large numbers of invasive species such as Rhododendron, Sycamore and Laurel had become well established within the woodland. These species were rampant in the areas selected for thinning.

As part of the conditions agreed to secure the thinning license for the woods, the entity involved agreed to carry out the removal of all invasive species from the selected area. In addition, standing dead wood and veteran trees were selected for retention for conservation purposes.

From the selected thinning, some Oak were removed, as were all Sycamore, most Beech, some Ash, all Rhododendron and all Laurel, as well as Willow from dry areas only, with wet Willow being left in situ. Most Oak trees selected were between 60-80 years old, with the occasional older tree. Contrary to some reports, I am advised that there were no 400 year old Oak trees on the site.

Trees were removed to allow natural regeneration of the Oak woodland, to promote continuous woodland cover and to help in the conservation of this important site. The removal of the alien species and the thinning of the woodland assist in this management by allowing the light to reach the forest floor, encouraging the natural regrowth of the woodland. This had not happened over the last 25 years, so no natural regeneration had occurred.

Expert personnel from my Department have met the personnel involved to walk the site and assess the works carried out to date. My Department remains satisfied that the work was carried out in accordance to the conditions set out in the thinning/felling license. A further assessment was made recently to ensure that completion of the licensed works would be beneficial to the long-term recovery of the woodland.