Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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579.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to address concerns arising from the proposed setback distances being introduced for forestry felling licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25213/24]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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583.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans, if any, to consult with the forestry sector on felling licence conditions and percentage lands allocated to setbacks to ensure that the right levels are in place, to ensure the highest percentage of forest cover is sustained given the need to protect our forest cover, the industry, the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25491/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 583 together.

The purpose of the water setback is to create a buffer of natural ground vegetation positioned between defined water features and the subsequent forest crop that will emerge after replanting takes place. The aim is to protect water quality and aquatic ecosystems from possible sediment and nutrient runoff from the site during harvesting operations throughout the forest rotation. It is an area of a defined width, which is left undisturbed and unplanted, allowing vegetation to grow and providing a filtration buffer between the water feature and the subsequent forest crop.

Setback distances are set out in Table 4 of the Department’s publication ‘Environmental Requirements for Afforestation Working Document v.31Aug23’ and start at 10 metres for mineral soils on moderate slopes, to 25 metres on steep slopes on soils with a peat component. These setbacks are based on the findings from the HydroFOR project (2016). The extent of open space created by setbacks is therefore dependant on site types and the amount of water courses on the site. It is the case that many forests planted in the past that are now ready for clearfell were planted on peaty sites with steep slopes. This means that many of the licences currently being issued would have water set backs on them.

Setback rules are currently being actively considered. During 2023, a "felling licence conditions" document was circulated to Forest Industry Ireland, following which a consultation process took place. This included several meetings and a site visit, where the issue of setbacks was discussed in detail. A review of these setbacks is now underway within my Department, and is due to conclude shortly. The next draft of the felling conditions document will be subject to a stakeholder consultation later this year.