Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2136. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation in regard to the responsibility of forestry owners to replant forests destroyed by fire across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41098/22]
View answerFire is a significant but preventable risk to forests in Ireland. The protection of individual forest holdings is the responsibility of forest owners, but cooperation between forest owners can be highly beneficial in protecting against fire and most importantly reducing available fuel loads to manage risk.
Forests at younger stages of development are most at risk from fire, and fire risk is highest during Spring when winter vegetation is dead and can readily dry out and become flammable during dry spells.
My Department provides guidance and advice to forest owners and monitors forest fire risk throughout the main risk period and provides Fire Danger Notices when conditions dictate, in conjunction with Met Éireann. This information can be found at gov.ie - Fire Management (www.gov.ie). Forest Fire protection information is also available at www.teagasc.ie
Insurance of forests again fire is readily available on the open market and all forest owners are encouraged to ensure against fire losses.
Where forests are damaged or destroyed by fire, there is an obligation to report these losses with six months of the damage occurring, pursuant to Section 12 of the Forestry Act, 2014.
There is an obligation on forest owners to replant lands where forest has been destroyed by fire, to prevent deforestation, pursuant to Section 12(3) and section 26(1) of the Forestry Act, 2014.
