asked the Minister for Local Government when he made provisions for the preservation and protection of trees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tree Preservation.
73.
Section 45 of the local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, enables planning authorities to make tree preservation orders which can prohibit the cutting down, topping, lopping or wilful destruction of any tree, group of trees, or woodlands, which the planning authority consider it desirable to protect in the interests of amenity. The Act also enables planning authorities, in granting permission for development, to attach conditions requiring the preservation of existing trees on the site, the replacement planting of trees removed in the course of the development, or the landscaping of the site.
As the Deptuy is no doubt aware, section 22 of the Planning Bill, at present before the Dáil, would enable planning authorities to serve a warning notice on the owner of land where it appears to them that any tree may be removed or damaged in contravention of a condition attached to a planning permission. The notice would require the owner to take adequate steps to ensure compliance with its requirements and would warn that proceedings under the section may be brought against him and any other person who fails to comply or who assists or permits any contravention. Failure to comply with a notice would involve substantial penalties.