Written answers

Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Sector

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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160. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, in stating that removing lop and top or brash from site is not described in the standards for felling and reforestation, if harvesting lop and top and brash from forestry harvesting sites is outside of the scope of the standards for felling and reforestation of October 2019 and that the standards for felling and reforestation do not apply to such standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46215/22]

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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161. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, in stating that there is no licence requirement if a landowner wishes to remove some of this material from a site, if this is an unlicensed activity and that harvesting lop and top or brash from forestry harvesting sites is outside the scope of the felling licence system and requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46216/22]

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, if he will confirm the Department's standard or guideline or guidance document that forest owners should review when harvesting lop and top or brash from harvesting sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46217/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, together.

Lop-and-top or brash are terms given to the side branches and tops of trees that are normally cut from the main stem and left on site during harvesting operations. There is no licence requirement if a landowner wishes to remove some of this material from a site.

The Department's 'Standards for Felling and Reforestation' specifies the use of brash in creating and maintaining dense mats of brash and branch wood on all machine routes, to avoid soil damage, erosion and sedimentation. Brash mats are typically concentrated on primary routes and in the junction of extraction paths and landing sites.

Removing lop on top or brash from site is not described in the Standards for felling and reforestation. Like any non licensed activities it is important that it is done in such a way that it does not interfere with the licence conditions being met.

I understand lop and top or brash is sometimes removed from sites and used as a biomass for wood fuel. This should only be done on certain sites where the operation will not have any adverse effects on water quality.

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