Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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541. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the decision not to grant an exemption to a group (details supplied) will be reconsidered. [29273/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Forestry in Ireland operates within a legal and regulatory framework. This is necessary in order to protect forests and also to ensure that forestry operations and activities are carried out in compliance with the principles of sustainable forest management. Reforestation after felling is essential to prevent deforestation, which would otherwise counteract the benefits of the initial afforestation. The obligation to replant felled trees is required under the Forestry Acts and associated regulations.

In this case referred to by the Deputy, a licence to fell 3.4 hectares, valid for 2 years with a further year for replanting, was issued in September 2013. A replanting order issued in September, 2018 as the site had not been replanted. My Department has considered the request for an exemption and has advised the owners that replanting must take place in line with the statutory requirements.