asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he is aware that a great number of trees are being felled every year without a felling licence under the Forestry Act, 1946; and the number of prosecutions which have been taken by him under that Act in the last five years.
Written Answers. - Illegal Felling Prosecutions.
95.
While in general it is illegal under the provisions of the Forestry Act, 1946, to cut down trees without permission from my Department, there are exceptions. For example, the law does not require that a licence be obtained to fell a tree standing within 100 feet of a building; or where a tree is standing in a county or other borough or an urban district; or to fell any ozier or certain fruit trees grown for the value of their fruit. It will be appreciated, therefore, that not all trees felled without a licence are felled illegally.
Every incident of alleged illegal felling reported to my Department is investigated. In the five-year period 1981 to 1985 73 such reports were investigated by my Department and the Garda. The culprits were not identified in 16 of these cases; warning letters were issued in 43 cases, where the offence was not serious enough or the evidence was insufficient to warrant further action; four offenders were prosecuted; and ten cases are still under investigation.