Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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650. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the circumstances in which farmers are required to apply for tree felling licenses, screening and consent from his Department; whether licenses, screening or consent has ever been issued by his Department retrospectively; and to outline the consequences for failures to comply with regulations. [56802/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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Forestry in Ireland operates under the Forest Act 2014 and the Forestry Regulations 2017 (SI No 191 of 2017). Section 7 of the Act stipulates that a valid felling licence must be obtained from my Department prior felling trees, unless an exemption applies. Felling of trees without such a licence is an offence.

My Department does not issue felling licences retrospectively for illegal felling, and carries out monitoring of licence holders for compliance with licence conditions.

A person who is prosecuted for the offence of felling without a licence is potentially liable to a summary conviction or conviction on indictment as per section 17(6) of the Forestry Act.

In addition, tree felling licences carry an obligation to replant the area felled and my Department can issue a Replanting Order as per Section 26(3) of Act after the discovery of illegal felling, or breach of a licence condition.