Available Licence
Under Regulation 49(13) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Amendment Regulations) 2015, licences can be issued for the destruction of vegetation during the period 1 March to 31 August.
Application Form
The application form below, can be completed and emailed to: wildlifelicence@npws.gov.ie
Requirements
Completion of the application form, submission of Management Plan and copy of screening for Appropriate Assessment. If the area of the application is within an Special Protection Area or Special Area of Conservation, it may require an Activity Requiring Consent (ARC) letter.
Relevant Legislation
Under Regulation 49(13) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-2021, licences can be issued for the destruction of vegetation during the period 1 March to 31 August. This regulation states:
(13) Where the Minister considers—
(a) that a species of flora or type of vegetation poses a threat to any of the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives, or
(b) that a population of a species of flora hosts or is likely to host a pathogen, disease, pest or parasite that poses or is likely to pose a threat to that species or to other species of flora and hence to securing compliance with the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives, and that the destruction of that population is a practical, appropriate and proportionate measure to reduce that threat,
the Minister may, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, grant a licence for the destruction, by such means as the Minister may specify, of vegetation comprising or containing that species at any time including, where he or she considers it warranted, during the period from 1 March to 31 August.
Pursuant to Regulation 42A(1) of the same Regulations a Screening for Appropriate Assessment (AA) is required to be carried out. AA is a process required under Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive. Article 6(3) is transposed in Ireland by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011), as amended, and by Part XAB of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended.
All plans and projects which are not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a European Site, but which either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, are likely to have a significant effect on a “European Site”, require that an AA of these effects to determine if they will adversely affect the integrity of these sites.
Regulation 49 (13) Application Form - Control of Vegetation (fillable)
Regulation 49 (13) Application Form - Control of Vegetation (Printable)