Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2109. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will assist a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who wants to return their plantations back into grassland for general agriculture purposes after a total fell of the plantation has been completed due to ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy is to promote sustainable forest management as a central principle of Ireland’s forest policy, whereby forests are managed to provide economic, social and environmental benefits on a sustainable basis for both current and future generations.
Consequently, the permanent removal of forests for conversion to another land use, i.e. felling without replanting or deforestation, where a felling licence under the Forestry Act 2014 is required, will only be considered by my Department under exceptional circumstances.
The main scenarios where the permanent removal of trees and forests may be considered on a case-by-case basis, and on their own individual merits - including whether or not the replanting of alternative land will be required, are as follows:
1. Where there are overriding environmental considerations, e.g. the felling and non-replanting is intended to protect habitats and species listed as qualifying interests within SACs and SPAs;
2. To support renewable energy and energy security, e.g. a large scale windfarm installation;
3. Large scale commercial development inter alia likely to generate significant economic benefits for the local economy and community at large, e.g. a data centre;
4. Conversion of forest land to agricultural land; and
5. The provision of important public utilities and infrastructure, e.g. a gas pipeline or a high voltage electricity transmission line.
In response to the impact of ash dieback on plantations nation-wide, we offer support to owners under the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) scheme, details of which are found at this link on gov.ie:
www.gov.ie/en/service/ddc94-reconstitution-and-underplanting-scheme-ash-dieback/
If this owner does not wish to avail of RUS and wishes instead to convert to another land use, they should submit a felling licence application along with a case for conversion. When received my officials can then examine the context of the application and engage with the applicant. In such cases, if successful, the landowner / applicant would normally have to:
a. Refund any payments received from the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme under which the forest was planted;
b. Comply with the Department’s requirements, as they currently are, regarding the afforestation of alternative lands in lieu of the lands deforested.
In addition the application would need to be consistent with our stated policy per the Felling and Reforestation Policy document.
