(LRC Revised)

Number 31 of 2014

FORESTRY ACT 2014

REVISED

Updated to 13 October 2023

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an

administrative consolidation of the

Forestry Act 2014

. It is prepared by the Law

Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the

Law Reform Commission Act

1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and

consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Historic and Archaeological

Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023

(26/2023), enacted 13 October

2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the

European Union

(Restrictive Measures Concerning Syria) Regulations 2023

(S.I. No. 516 of 2023),

made 11 October 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has

been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume

no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning

the

accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not

accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify

any

errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

31

of

2014

FORESTRY ACT 2014

REVISED

Updated to 13 October

2023

CONTENTS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement

2. Interpretation

3. Laying of regulations

4. Expenses

PART 2

Administration of Forestry Sector

5. General functions of Minister

6. Specific functions of Minister

6A. Minister not authorised to dispose of State minerals

7. Granting of licences, etc. by Minister

8. Minister may appoint committees

9. Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of confidential information

10. Forest management plans

PART 3

Protection of Environment

11. Role of Minister in safeguarding environment

12. Where forest is destroyed or removed

13. Minister may require information

14. Removal or destruction of vegetation on land

15. Damage by vermin

PART 4

Felling of Trees

16. Definitions (Part 4)

17. Application for licence under section 7 to fell trees

18. Time period for decisions on applications for felling licences

19. Exempted trees

20. Preservation orders

21. Registration under Act of 2006 of conditions and replanting orders

PART 5

Afforestation, Forest Road Works and Aerial Fertilisation of Forests

22. Granting of licences by Minister for afforestation and certain other activities

22A. Scheme to facilitate the planting of native tree areas

PART 6

Enforcement

23. Authorised officers

24. Powers of authorised officers

25. Power to charge and recover fees, etc.

PART 7

Replanting Orders

26. Replanting orders

PART 8

Offences and Penalties

27. Offences and penalties

28. Prosecution of offences

29. Offences by body corporate

PART 9

Regulations

30. Regulations

PART 10

Miscellaneous

31. Repeal of Forestry Act 1946, etc.

32. Compensation for refusal of felling licence, etc

33. Transitional provisions

34. Service of documents

PART 11

Amendment of Agriculture Appeals Act 2001

35. Amendment of Agriculture Appeals Act 2001

SCHEDULE

Acts Referred to

Agriculture Appeals Act 2001

(No.

29)

Companies Acts

Electronic Commerce Act 2000

(No.

27)

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act

2011

(No. 20)

European Communities Act 1972

(No.

27)

European Communities Act 2007

(No.

18)

Forestry (Amendment) Act 2009

(No.

40)

Forestry Act 1946

(No. 13)

Forestry Act 1988

(No. 26)

Freedom of Information Act 1997

(No. 13)

Local Government (Sanitary

Services) Acts 1878 to 2001

Local Government Act 2001

(No.

37)

Local Government Acts 1925 to

2012

Local Government Reform Act 2014

(No. 1)

National Monuments (Amendment) Act

1987

(No. 17)

National Monuments (Amendment) Act

1994

(No. 17)

National Monuments Acts 1930 to

1994

Planning and Development Act 2000

(No. 30)

Planning and Development Acts

2000 to 2013

Registration of Deeds and Title Act

2006

(No. 12)

Wildlife Act 1976

(No. 39)

Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2000

Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012

Number

31

of

2014

FORESTRY ACT 2014

REVISED

Updated to 13 October

2023

An Act to make further and better

provision in relation to forestry, to provide for the development and promotion of

forestry

in a manner that maximises the economic, environmental and social value of forests

within

the principles of sustainable forest management, to confer power on the Minister for

Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make regulations for the effective management

of the

forestry sector, to make further provision for the giving effect to acts of the

institutions of the European Union by regulation made by that Minister in respect

of

forestry and forestry-related activities, to repeal the

Forestry Act 1946

, to amend the

Wildlife Act

1976

, to amend the

Agriculture

Appeals Act

2001

, to amend the

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011

and to provide for

related matters. [26

th October

, 2014]

Be it enacted by the Oireachtas

as follows

CONTENTS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement

2. Interpretation

3. Laying of regulations

4. Expenses

PART 2

Administration of Forestry Sector

5. General functions of Minister

6. Specific functions of Minister

6A. Minister not authorised to dispose of State minerals

7. Granting of licences, etc. by Minister

8. Minister may appoint committees

9. Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of confidential information

10. Forest management plans

PART 3

Protection of Environment

11. Role of Minister in safeguarding environment

12. Where forest is destroyed or removed

13. Minister may require information

14. Removal or destruction of vegetation on land

15. Damage by vermin

PART 4

Felling of Trees

16. Definitions (Part 4)

17. Application for licence under section 7 to fell trees

18. Time period for decisions on applications for felling licences

19. Exempted trees

20. Preservation orders

21. Registration under Act of 2006 of conditions and replanting orders

PART 5

Afforestation, Forest Road Works and Aerial Fertilisation of Forests

22. Granting of licences by Minister for afforestation and certain other activities

22A. Scheme to facilitate the planting of native tree areas

PART 6

Enforcement

23. Authorised officers

24. Powers of authorised officers

25. Power to charge and recover fees, etc.

PART 7

Replanting Orders

26. Replanting orders

PART 8

Offences and Penalties

27. Offences and penalties

28. Prosecution of offences

29. Offences by body corporate

PART 9

Regulations

30. Regulations

PART 10

Miscellaneous

31. Repeal of Forestry Act 1946, etc.

32. Compensation for refusal of felling licence, etc

33. Transitional provisions

34. Service of documents

PART 11

Amendment of Agriculture Appeals Act 2001

35. Amendment of Agriculture Appeals Act 2001

SCHEDULE

Number

31

of

2014