Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1411. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an application for a felling licence (details supplied) applied for in May 2018 has not been decided on yet despite being told on 7 September 2018 that it would be decided by 18 December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35686/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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An application for a tree felling licence for the person named, was received in May 2018. As the application takes in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) it was referred to the Inland Fisheries Ireland board, the local authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

My Department places great importance on the careful assessment of applications to ensure that any proposed felling does not adversely affect the surrounding environment. In addition to this, where felling sites are near or within SACs, particular attention must be paid to the conservation objectives of these sites. Measures must be taken to ensure that any possible effects are mitigated.

The proposed site overlaps the Maumturk Mountains SAC and is near the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex. For this reason, the application was referred to my Department’s Ecologist who has determined that a Natura Impact Statement is required. My officials will be in touch with the applicant shortly setting out the information that is needed in the Natura Impact Statement.