Tree Protection Bill - Call for Evidence

Clause 7 adds new sections 128A–128D to the 2011 Act, creating a digital, publicly accessible system for tree‑preservation information across Northern Ireland. Section 128A requires the Department to provide an online map showing all active TPOs, conservation‑area boundaries, and council‑level statistics on TPO applications. Section 128B places duties on councils to upload their existing records within an initial upload period and then update the map at least every three months. Section 128C allows the Department to make regulations governing how Tree Protection Map information is made available and clarifies that, aside from personal‑data protections, processing this information does not breach confidentiality. Section 128D reinforces that none of these duties permit processing personal data in violation of data‑protection legislation.