Robert Troy
Question:355. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline what body has overall responsibility for dealing with vulnerable/weak or diseased trees. [49913/23]
View answerTuesday, 14 November 2023
Questions (355)
Written answers
The responsibility for forestry policy lies with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine under the Forestry Act 2014 and its Regulations, as amended. However individual landowners are responsible for trees on their land. Local authorities also have responsibilities to implement the legislation on the management or removal of certain trees.
My Department has published guidance for landowners in relation to tree felling and reforestation which can be found on my Department’s website here: gov.ie/en/publication/19b8d-tree-felling-licences/
Landowners with particular concerns should contact their forester or the Department directly.
The care and management of trees, including those adjacent to roads, is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this.
The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal dangerous roadside trees is the responsibility of the local authority, in its capacity as the relevant road authority. However, my Department has also published guidance on the subject of roadside trees (“A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”) and this can be accessed at the Department website and can be found here: gov.ie - A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees (gov.ie). Trees outside of a forest may, subject to certain conditions, be felled without a felling licence, where it is dangerous to persons using the public road on account of its age or condition.