asked the Minister for Energy if he has catalogued hardwood forestry in Ireland; and the current steps being taken to see that hardwoods are preserved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hardwood Forestry.
7.
Statistics relating to broadleaved woodlands in the hands of Coillte Teoranta and the private sector in general are available to my Department.
Under the Forestry Act, 1946, trees including hardwoods cannot be felled except under licence from my Department. Such licences are issued only in accordance with the general practice of good forestry. Licences are not issued where the local county council objects on amenity grounds and where the trees are subject to a tree preservation order under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963.
Is Deputy Boylan offering? Deputy Boylan is deferring.
Will the Minister publish the details on hardwood? There are quite a number of inquiries about policy. Will the Minister consider a more vigorous promotion of the planting of hardwood trees?
I will have that information made available to the Deputy. Since I joined the Department I travelled to a number of seminars throughout the country, as did my predecessor, and we have impressed on people the need to preserve hardwood timbers. I will certainly make the information available to the Deputy.
Question No. 8.
Can I ask one brief question?
I called the Deputy. He did not offer.
Is the Minister concerned at the manner in which Irish oak is being felled at present and at the possibility that it might disappear from the country given the length of time it takes for an oak tree to develop and mature? In all the cases I know of this timber is being brought north of the Border——
I thought the Deputy had a question.
I am asking the Minister if he is concerned at the manner in which Irish oak is being felled and disappearing from the country.
We are concerned and I think the Deputy would agree that what happened in Coolattin is an example of the Government's concern. As I said, precautions are taken within the Department and, even the new forestry board, Coillte Teoranta, must get a felling licence from the Department. I can assure the Deputy that very strict requirements have to be met before felling licences are granted, not alone to Coillte Teoranta but to every other interest in the country.