Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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391. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any of the mini-woodland planting under the new agri-environmental Hares Corner project requires an afforestation licence; if there is specific forestry profession input into the various silvicultural practices involved in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Hares Corner project is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the  Hares Corner project team. €71,760  has been allocated by my Department to this project under the RDP.

None of the mini-woodland planting in the Hare's Corner Project will require an afforestation license as the areas to be planted will essentially be small field corners or extensions of hedgerows etc. None will exceed, and most will be much less than, 0.1ha in size - the current permissible limit for woodland planting without a license. The project group will be guided at all times by inputs from a registered professional forester who is also a member of the Operational Group of the project.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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392. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the situation for a person or persons without a recognised forestry qualification to level 7 or 8, as required by his Department to become a registered forester, to advise and direct landowners on silvicultural issues such as species selection, establishment practices, ongoing management and any other specific operations particular to the forestry profession, in schemes or other projects run or administered or funded by his Department, regardless of the individual or plot size of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47384/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement of the Department that those wishing to act as Registered Foresters must have the appropriate qualification and have Professional Indemnity Insurance (PPI).  This is to ensure that landowners receive the correct advice on potential forestry operations and the ongoing management of their forestry sites. 

Registered Foresters therefore must have the required training and skills to assess proposed operations, regarding the current environmental considerations that must be taken, when preparing an application on behalf of a landowner.  Any member of the public who feels that a registered forester falls below this standard should contact the Department.