Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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647. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of instances of illegal tree felling and hedgerow removal that have been reported to his Department; the number of investigations conducted into same; and the number of offences determined to be found, from 2023 to date, in tabular form. [56799/25]

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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648. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions taken by his Department in instances of illegal tree felling and hedgerow removal; and to provide details of enforcement actions conducted, from 2020 to date, in tabular form. [56800/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.

Forestry in Ireland operates within a legal and regulatory framework, namely, the Forest Act 2014 and the Forestry Regulations 2017 (SI No 191 of 2017). The regulation of forestry 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. Compliance with forestry licence conditions is an important element of the forestry licencing process and is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the forestry licencing system.

The felling of trees requires a licence, as per Section 7 of the Forestry Act 2014. Felling of trees without such a licence is an offence. Tree felling licences carry an obligation to replant the area felled. Section 26 of the Forestry Act describes offences and penalties, and includes the provision for the issuing of Replanting Orders. Failure to comply with a Replanting Order is also an offence.

My Department carries out monitoring of licence holders for compliance with licence conditions. Typically, a Replanting Order is the primary method used - although prosecutions for non-compliance with the Forestry Act are also used - to ensure the replanting obligation is met in full.

The protection of hedgerows comes under different legislation to that of Forestry, namely, the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations. Field boundaries such as hedgerows, stone walls and clay banks are afforded protection under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (EIA) S.I. 456 of 2011 (as amended by S.I. No. 142 of 2013 and S.I. No. 407 of 2017). Any proposed land restructuring works may require screening and approval by my Department under the EIA regulations.

Where hedgerow removal has been deemed to have occurred in breach of EIA screening requirements:

• land will be subject to inspection by department officials;
• reinstatement or mitigation works will be required and enforced, and prosecution may occur;
• works carried out will be reported to relevant divisions within my Department, including the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme.