As I mentioned in Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 14th October, 2021, to fell a tree or trees without a valid tree felling licence, unless exempted, is an offence under the Forestry Act.
I also provided common scenarios whereby trees can be felled without the need to submit a tree felling licence application. To be clear, if the felling of dead, dying or rotting trees within an Ash Plantation are part of an application for the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme for Ash Dieback, no application for a felling licence is required as these trees are dealt with within this Scheme and as such are exempted under s. 19(1)(c) of the Forestry Act, 2014.
In circumstances where no application is made under the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme for Ash Dieback, an applicant felling ash trees within a plantation must apply for a felling licence; if in such circumstances a licence is not applied for the regulatory provisions for non-compliance can apply, as provided for under Section 26 and Section 27 of the Forestry Act 2014.
