Vol. 481 No. 4
42 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to amend the law to increase the levels of fines which are available to the courts, in respect of convicting individuals of illegal tree-felling and destruction of hedgerows to have the desired effect and dissuade people from this type of environmental vandalism. [16091/97]
Under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, 1963-93 certain trees and hedgerows may be protected and provision is made for fines of up to £1,000 on summary conviction and up to £1,000,000 on indictment for breaches of the Acts in this respect. The question of increasing these fines will be examined in the present review of planning law which I have initiated.
The position on tree felling and hedgerows under the Forestry Acts and the Wildlife Acts is a matter for the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, respectively.
