Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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312. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide any updates from his Department’s interaction with the Forestry Forum (details supplied); the progress or agreement on the responsibility for safe corridors for electric supply lines through forestry; action points agreed; if there is a plan to assist or compensate forestry owners who have seen devasting damage done to their crop; and if there are any plans through Coillte to deal with the issue of clearing damaged forests across the west and northwest. [21785/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises that the recent storms Darragh and Éowyn, have caused varying degrees of damage around the country, including significant damage to trees and in some cases electricity infrastructure and that this presents challenges to all stakeholders in forestry.

My Department is in regular contact with the ESB, particularly in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. The Government requested and received a Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan from ESB Networks. A key component of this plan is a commitment to review forestry setbacks and corridors in relation to the safeguarding of the electrical network. In this regard the ESB continues to engage with my Department, Coillte, Department of Environment Climate and Communications and I understand they are also engaging with farmer representatives.

Coillte have been of great assistance to the ESB in clearing trees locally, so that fallen powerlines could be restored.

Finally, the Department is currently examining all potential options to support those forest owners affected by storm Darragh and Éowyn. However, without prejudging the outcome of these deliberations, you can be reassured that affected forest owners will not be disadvantaged by undertaking clearance or replanting now.