Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1541. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for a felling licence will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41980/21]
View answerThe Department received an application for a tree felling licence from the person named in October 2020. Following an initial examination, archaeological sites and features were identified and the application was referred to my Department’s Archaeological Unit. The application contains multiple plots with operations planned over 10 years and the site is close to five recorded monuments. Conditions for the protection of the archaeological features have been finalised with the National Monuments Service (NMS).
Furthermore, the proposed site lies near five designated sites. The possible effects of the tree felling operations may have on these sites cannot be excluded and, therefore, the application has been referred to the Department’s Ecology Unit. The harvest plan has been submitted with the application, which has assisted with the ecological assessment of the proposed operations. The application was assigned to an ecologist and their examination of the application is almost complete. The application is now opened for 30 days’ public consultation. When the public consultation closes, the ecologist will finalise the ecological reports, return the file to the forestry inspector who will review and make their recommendations and the decision should issue shortly thereafter.
