Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 3

Written Answers. - Liffey Valley.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

145 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Environment if he has inspected the Liffey Valley area in order that he might sign the Special Amenity Order; when he will sign the order; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at least two applications for a felling licence have been sought within the last couple of months, affecting at least 4,000 trees within the Liffey Valley; and if he will make a statement on the future of the valley.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 15 and 63 on 14 November 1989.

I have not inspected the area for which the special amenity area order has been made by Dublin County Council. Applications for tree felling licences are a matter for the Minister for Energy and I have no involvement therein. Planning authorities have powers under section 45 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, as amended, to make tree preservation orders in the interest of amenity in respect of trees, groups of trees or woodlands and the marking of such orders is not dependent on the existence or otherwise of a special amenity area order for the area in which such trees might be situated.