My Department controls the felling and replanting of trees and forests under a felling licensing regime. To be legally compliant licence holders must comply with the conditions of their felling licence.
Currently, replanting is taking place in accordance with the current agreed corridor widths under powerlines. These corridor widths vary from 20 metres for 10kv, 20 kv and 38 kv distribution lines up to widths of between 61 and 74 metres for the higher voltage transmission lines.
In July 2025 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 which will enhance the resilience of the electricity grid. The purpose of this Bill is to enable proactive measures, such as the establishment and maintenance of designated forestry corridors within existing forestry. The Heads of Bill allows for the creation of Corridors up to a width of 55 metres for distribution lines and up to 74 metres for the transmission lines. The specific arrangements will be provided for in subsequent regulations, and these will then become forest practice.
My Department and Department Climate, Energy and the Environment are continuing to discuss this matter with a view to finding solutions that improve the resilience of the electricity network without unduly hindering the development of sustainable forestry.
