Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further to the recent fires on Tara Hill, Gorey, County Wexford there will be a review or recommendations into the matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36451/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department is satisfied with the recent Multi-agency response to recent fires on Tara Hill, which occurred during particularly challenging weather conditions for fire, and in difficult terrain. My Department is not aware of ongoing issues with emergency service access at this site, either on public roads or within the forest area itself.

By their nature forest fires in rural areas often involve access to difficult terrain and the use of forest road networks and footpaths permits access by fire service vehicles and crews to the site, including specialist Coillte teams. Forest road networks are primarily designed to support heavy forestry vehicles, and can readily support fire appliances, tankers and other heavy emergency vehicles. Forest firefighting often involves the use of smaller, more agile 4x4 type vehicles, ATV's and man-portable equipment capable of off-road operation where conditions permit. Availability of helicopter firefighting support is key to rapid suppression of fires in difficult terrain and a Coillte helicopter was used to support firefighting operations during the incident at Tara Hill, ensuring an effective suppression response despite difficult prevailing conditions.

The incident underpins the need for members of the public to act responsibly during visits to forest lands and to refrain from lighting fires, barbecues and other sources of ignition, and in particular to park responsibly at forest sites so as not to block emergency access to forest road networks in case these are needed for emergency access.