Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1754. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to grant-aid the cutting of trees on roadsides that are infected with ash dieback for road safety reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63251/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The care and management of trees adjacent to roads is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the roadside trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this.

My Department does not offer funding for the removal of roadside trees, but has recently published guidance on the subject of roadside trees (“A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”) and this can be accessed at the Department website.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1755. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current membership number of an organisation (details supplied); the length of membership of each member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63252/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The COFORD Council is a body appointed by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to advise the Minister and the Department on issues related to the development of the forest sector in Ireland.

The current membership of the COFORD Council covers the period 2019 to 2023 and is listed in the table below. The Council comprises stakeholders from a number of organisations interested in forestry and is appointed approximately every five years. The current COFORD Council term is due to finish in May 2023 and a decision to appoint a new Council, including the future format of COFORD will be reviewed in Quarter 1 this year.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1756. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider dropping the obligation for the replanting of forestry as part of the new forestry programme, in order to encourage afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63253/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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, associated regulations and is not related to an individual Forestry Programme.

Legally-binding international environmental agreements and ‘carbon accounting’ (United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)) have also necessitated a policy to prevent deforestation due to the role forests play as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases (GHG’s). The EU land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation accounts for deforestation emissions. 

Notwithstanding this policy to maintain forest cover through sustainable forest management (SFM), there are circumstances where deforestation will be legally permitted for environmental and social benefit. The DAFM Felling and Reforestation Policy 2017 outlines the scenarios where forests can be permanently removed under licence.