Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 8

Written Answers. - Portumna (Galway) Felling.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

140 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fears of the community who live next to the Portumna Forest Park, County Galway, regarding clear-felling of the mature forest; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this group have asked Coillte Teoranta for assurance that corridors of trees remain so as to allow for some habitat for wildlife and to prevent a moonscape like aftermath which typifies areas which have been harvested. [4004/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I am aware of concerns at local level about clear-felling proposals in this property. The Forestry Act, 1946 provides for control over tree felling operations, including clear-felling and thinning, most notably by way of the granting or refusal of general and limited felling licences. No licence which would have permitted clear-felling operations to be carried out by Coillte Teoranta in this property has been issued since 1994. The only operations which have been licensed in this period are normal silvicultural thinning operations.

In a wider context I can tell the Deputy that it is standard practice for my Department to require that any areas clear-felled are replanted fully, normally within 12 months, and that the planted trees are protected and maintained thereafter. Compliance with my Department's "Forestry and the Landscape Guidelines", introduced in 1992, is a licence condition and requires that where clear-felling and replanting of an irregular strip at the edge of a plantation should be considered ten years prior to general clear-felling operations, in order to minimise visual impact. I might also mention that my Department is considering the preparation of Guidelines or a Code of Practice specifically applicable to harvesting operations.