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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - Afforestation Programme.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

74 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Coillte Teoranta has since its formation felled more than 1,474 hectares of registered seed stands without the required limited felling licences; the action he intends to take in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7039/02]

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

75 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the EU has sought information in relation to Coillte Teoranta's regulatory role of maintaining the Irish Forestry Seed Stand Register here; his views on whether this regulatory role is in accordance with the forest reproductive materials directive; the action he intends to take in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7040/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.

The felling of conifer seed stands is the normal practice to facilitate seed collection. Following the felling of such seed stands, new or replacement stands are added to the seed stand register. The period over which the 1,474 hectares of seed stands referred to by the Deputy have been felled extends back, in fact, to 1973 when EU Directives 66/404 and 71/161 on forest reproductive materials first applied in Ireland. However, a significantly greater area has over the years been added to the register and the existing area of registered seed stands totals almost 4,800 hectares.

In the years up to and including 1997 the felling of seed stands was authorised under the general felling licence procedure. In 1998 and 1999 the felling of seed stands required a limited felling licence in recognition of the sensitivity of such stands.

For those two years, although Coillte submitted listings of the seed stands scheduled for felling with their applications for general felling licences, they did not submit applications for limited fel ling licences for those areas as required. In consequence, the felling of seed stands by Coillte in 1998 and 1999 was unauthorised. The areas involved were 64.5 hectares in 1998 and 62.3 hectares in 1999. Changes in procedures in relation to felling of seeds stands were introduced in 2000 and Coillte Teoranta have been in full compliance with these procedures since that year.
My Department considered the question of taking legal action against Coillte Teoranta in relation to felling in 1998 and 1999. However, advice from the Office of the Attorney General was to the effect that a prosecution under the Forestry Act, 1946, would, in this instance, be unlikely to succeed.
I can confirm that my Department has not received a request from the EU for information in relation to the maintenance of the seed stand register in Ireland. The role of Coillte Teoranta in maintaining Ireland's seed stand register is in accordance with EU Directives 66/404 and 71/161 on forest reproductive materials. Arrangements for the maintenance of the register of seed stands are being reviewed in light of the introduction of Directive 105/99/EC on Forest Reproductive Material which will apply in Ireland from 1 January 2003.
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