asked the Minister for Energy arising from the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 2 November, 1988, the number of trees felled under the 989 licences granted during the period 1 October, 1978 to 30 September, 1988; if his attention has been drawn to widespread tree felling without such licences; whether any prosecutions have been made in respect of unlicensed felling; and the system his Department have for monitoring licensing and compliance with licence conditions.
Written Answers. - Felling of Trees.
86.
Two types of felling licences are granted by my Department — general and limited. General felling licences are granted to owners of forest plantations who are carrying out a systematic scheme of thinning or clearfelling and replanting in accordance with good forestry practice. These licences cover areas of forest rather than numbers of trees. Limited felling licences are granted in respect of specified trees.
Of the 989 licences granted during the period 1 October 1978 to 30 September 1988, 893 were limited felling licences which authorised the felling of 732,473 trees. The remaining 96 licences were general felling licences covering areas of forest and it is not possible to state the number of trees involved. General felling licences are granted only after a detailed inspection of the area involved by my Department, the consequent drawing up by my officials of felling programmes to be carried out by the applicant and the inspection of such programmes to ensure that specified conditions have been met.
Cases of felling without licence are reported by the Garda, local authorities, members of the public and local inspectors of my Department. The number of such reports does not suggest that widespread illegal tree felling is taking place. If the Deputy is aware of cases where illegal felling is taking place, perhaps he would bring these to my attention so that action can be taken against those involved.
Prosecutions have been made in respect of unlicensed felling — five cases have been prosecuted in the past 12 months — and relevant penalties have been substantially increased under the Forestry Act, 1988.