Written answers

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forest Fires

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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60. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the overall cost of the fire at Cloosh Valley, County Galway; the value of the timber lost and the reconstitution costs, bogland lost and the services involved in extinguishing the fire; the number of hectares of both forestry and bogland lost; the results of investigations carried out by Coillte, his Department or another body; if he will provide a copy of the investigation reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41672/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The forest fire on Coillte lands at Cloosh Valley started on Saturday, 6th of May and was brought under control on Wednesday, 10th of May 2017. The fire spread across three separate fronts: a bog fire, a thicket fire and a tree crown fire. I understand that the fire was tackled by thirty five Coillte staff and contractors, three helicopters, two fire service tenders and thirty Defence Forces personnel.

As in any major fire damage incident, it takes some time to assess the full extent of the damage and the costs associated with it. The scale of the Cloosh fire was extremely significant with approximately eight kilometres of bog land fire and two kilometres of tree crown fires.

Coillte’s initial estimates are that more than 1,200 hectares of forest lands have been burnt and an additional 2,000 hectares of bog lands burnt.  Coillte are currently conducting a full inventory on the area of its lands affected by the fire and expect to have the results of that inventory available in the next few weeks. 

Evaluation of the costs involved is similarly ongoing. This evaluation will include the costs of fighting the fire itself to bring it under control, the costs of clean up and additional cultivation requirements and the loss of the value of the standing timber. The reconstitution of forest lands damaged by fire can be very challenging as significant additional cultivation is required to remove burnt material and to prepare the lands for reforestation.  Early indications from Coillte are that the cost of the Cloosh fire will run into the multi-million euro range.

Following the spate of wildfires in the first part of 2017 and in particular the two large forest fires in the Ox Mountains in Co. Roscommon and in Cloosh valley, the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning asked for a co-ordinated reporton the lessons learned and recommendations from those Departments/Agencies involved in the response efforts.

Following a meeting of personnel from the relevant Agencies and Departments a report was prepared and circulated to the members of the Government Task Force. I understand that this report is available and lists a number of recommendations and actions for the various Agencies and Departments involved.

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