Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current felling site notice which has to be erected following the granting of a felling licence and during harvesting operations at a location is in compliance with all relevant data protection legislation given the details that are made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48569/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department requires tree felling licence holders to erect a site notice on their lands, where felling operations are taking place. The blank site notice is issued with the granted forestry licence and is completed by the licensee or their agent. The purpose of the site notice is to inform the public that the tree felling, the details of which appear on the notice, are taking place on the lands under a valid tree felling licence.

The format of the site notice is like site notices erected on sites where a grant of planning application has been submitted to the local authority. Local authority site notices also require the applicant’s name to appear on the notice.

Tree felling licence site notices are a requirement of the Forestry Act, 2014 and the Forestry Regulations, 2017. An applicant for a tree felling licence is advised of the requirements in respect of the site notice on the application form and on the Department’s website.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasoning for the balance between State aid funding for forest establishment and the accounting of carbon credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48570/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasoning for the balance between forests established with no State aid and the accounting of carbon credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48571/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

The current model adopted by Ireland provides funding to landowners to cover 100% of the costs of establishing forests and to provide premiums to encourage land owners to make this land use change. In addition, tax free incentives are provided when timber is sold and other grant aid provided to construct forest roads.

These financial incentives and also the favourable tax treatment of income from the sale of timber recognise that forests provide a range of benefits not just to the landowner but in the general provision of public goods.

There is no difference how forests, whether state funded or not, are accounted and reported. Under international reporting and accounting requirements, Ireland must report on all emissions and removals from the total national forest estate.

Forests removing or emitting carbon dioxide has the same impact on climate irrespective of whether the forests are publicly or privately owned.

All forests are accounted and reported together to determine the total amount of carbon dioxide removed or emitted to the atmosphere as part of Ireland's international commitments.