Deputy Nealon gave me notice of his intention to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the proposed extension of afforestation on the shores of Lough Gill from an environmental point of view.
Adjournment Debate. - Lough Gill (Sligo) Proposed Afforestation.
I thank you, Sir, very sincerely for having allowed me to raise the matter of the proposed planting in the immediate future on the shores of Lough Gill of approximately 40 acres of plantation — overlooking the Lake Isle of Innisfree. This is a matter of major importance for Sligo and, by its implications also, for the entire country. Because of your decision, Sir, the raising of this matter is timely and is capable of influencing the future course of events.
As we all know, Lough Gill is one of the outstanding beauty spots of the west, indeed of the entire country. In addition to its great natural beauty, Lough Gill and the north Sligo area was also fortunate in that it won the heart of W.B. Yeats, the greatest poet of the present century. It was his adopted land and was the inspiration for many of his great works. Several of the landmarks in the area have been immortalised in his poems — Ben Bulben, the waterfall at Glencar, the churchyard at Drumcliffe where he rests and none more so than the Lake Isle of Innisfree. Every schoolchild in recent times has known and recited that poem. Indeed there must be very few adults in the country who have not come across it one way or another; in the best Irish tradition we are all capable of reciting at least a couple of lines.
The actual Lake Isle of Innisfree in Lough Gill can be seen reasonably well from many points around the lake but can be seen in all its glory only from a particular vantage point along the Lake Isle road in Killerry. From here one looks down on the isle with the majestic sweep of the lake and, in the background, Ben Bulben and the north Sligo mountains. As anybody who has been there will know, it is truly a breathtaking site, undoubtedly that which inspired Yeats when he camped there. From a presentday practical point of view it is a site that attracts visitors to Sligo to see the island itself, attracted there by the natural beauty of the scenery and the fame of the poet. Visitors come in their thousands to this vantage point every year. They were there in large numbers over the most recent bank holiday weekend.
The area has been designated by Sligo County Council as of special landscape amenity importance in their development plan. It was also included in a Foras Forbartha inventory in the seventies as being an area of outstanding natural beauty. It also figured in a second inventory of An Foras Forbarha — the blue book — as an area of special scientific interest because of the location, to the east of the area about which I speak, of ancient primeval woods, intact, renewing themselves almost since the Ice Age.
This is the vista we are in imminent danger of losing. Last week contractors, on behalf of a private individual who owns the 40 acres of land there, so far as we know, descended on Killerry with their machinery and began to fence off the area with a view to subsequent planting. We were told that this planting was about to take place in the very near future. The planting would be done on the open space about which I speak that affords the view of the Lake Isle itself, with the lake and the mountains in the background. We are told the intention is to plant Sitka spruce which I understand in this type of soil and climate can grow ultimately to between 40 and 60 feet. If they proceed with this planting they would obliterate the views of the Lake Isle itself. In addition, part of our literary history would disappear, as the trees grew, behind a timber curtain, ironically growing on the very spot on which Yeats camped annually.
The only alternative then would be to view the island from the lake shore, the water's edge. Viewed from there the vista is entirely different, not nearly as inspirational or impressive as at present. It would still be beautiful but would not be in the same category as from the present viewing point. The planting would also obliterate the uninterrupted views of the lake, of Ben Bulben in the background, of Trewane Bay, Killerry and Kee-logyboy. Such an eventuality would be a tragedy, a disaster.
Since the local people were alerted as to what was about to happen and the Sligo community as such became conscious of the proposed plans, there have been all sorts of soothing words uttered to the effect that due account would be taken of the amenity aspect of the area. We were told, for example, that more broad-leaf trees would be planted, that the proposed landscaping would ensure that the island could still be viewed with the mountains in the background. With all due respect to the people who say these things, I think this is the usual line we get on such occasions to soothe sensitivities of one kind or another. The only answer on this occasion is that no trees should be planted in this open space. I say this as a person who has been a great enthusiast of planting and who has advocated all my life the planting of more trees.
I have seen the enhanced beauty that these trees give in many places, for example, in the Slieve Bloom area of the Minister's county and in the Ox Mountains. In the north Sligo mountains trees have been planted in many areas and in most cases they enhance the beauty of a spot rather than otherwise. Unfortunately on this occasion they would eliminate an open space which is part and parcel of the beauty of this area and which gives access to the viewing of the lake which is part of our literary history and heritage.
I know the Minister's power in relation to this matter is rather limited and while the new Forestry Bill provides that all developments would be in sympathy with the environment, unfortunately I do not see included in it any kind of arbitration machinery as to which body would make the decision whether a plantation was in sympathy with the environment. Perhaps the Minister in the further progress of the Bill might consider including some such machinery in view of the difficulties that have now arisen in the Sligo area.
I know the Minister is particularly sensitive to ensure that planting does not interfere with existing amenities and that it is in total sympathy with the environment. I also know the quality of the staff he has in the Sligo office. During recent years they have been responsible for an enormous number of plantations which they have done extremely well and with the minimum of difficulty. As we know the entire Sligo area is becoming a centre for forestry and is, along with Counties Leitrim and Mayo, the heart-land of the development of forestry. I know the Minister will take due account of what the Sligo planning authority have to say in this matter and that he will, in the ordinary course of events, consult with the Office of Public Works.
I will ask the Minister to exercise the most powerful weapon he has at his disposal, and one which has fortunately not been exhausted in this case, and withhold the grant aid that is being sought for this plantation. This would be a powerful economic weapon. It is at the Minister's disposal and it would discourage any further ideas of planting this particular open space. I believe that would be the most powerful weapon the Minister could use.
Not even the most beautiful trees which could be planted could possibly be in sympathy with the environment in this area. There is only one answer in this case and that is that the area should be left precisely as it was when Yeats was there.
I should like to thank the Minister for giving me some of his time. I support what Deputy Nealon has said and I thank him for raising this matter on the Adjournment. This is a very important question because this is a high amenity area. It has been designated by Sligo County Council as an amenity area and I believe that if forestry is planted there it will spoil the beauty of the Isle of Innisfree. We all know that W. B. Yeats composed the following poem:
I will arise and go now, and go to Inisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows I will have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade, And I shall have some peace there...
There is peace in the Isle of Innisfree and I ask the Minister not to grant aid this project to plant trees there. If grant aid has not already been approved the Minister should not grant it. I believe this land is owned by a German and while we are not against Germans — there are many fine Germans living in Ireland, in particular, in the County Sligo area — we are against the planting of trees in this area.
Like other Deputies I have been contacted by people from Killerry and Ballintoger who are totally against the planting of trees in the Isle of Innisfree. As Deputy Nealon said, it is a high amenity area which overlooks the beautiful lake of Lough Gill. The Minister who is with us at present has responsibility for forestry and I should like to congratulate him on the excellent job he is doing. I heard him interviewed on the radio yesterday about the importation of ash from Wales which is used to make hurleys for our national game.
The Tipperary team could do with a bit of improvement this year.
We all welcome afforestation but not in a high amenity area such as the Isle of Innisfree.
The forest service has been to the forefront in the improvement and provision of new amenity facilities in many parts of the country. The creation of parks and picnic sites and the enhancement of our environment has been synonymous with forestry practices for a long time. Even though we have now embarked on a much more ambitious and expanded afforestation programme, both public and private, the utmost care is being taken, and that will continue to be the case, so that the development of this resource will not be in conflict with the proper management of our environment.
We have established constant liaison with the Office of Public Works to ensure that areas of scientific, cultural, historical and high amenity value are not afforested. There is a vast bank of suitable land for afforestation throughout the country without infringing on these critical areas. There are perhaps two extreme positions one can take up: one where the planter totally ignores the landscape and the environmental value and the other where the public at large do not appreciate, as Deputy Nealon said, that the proper blending of species, and particularly the use of deciduous plants, can and has enhanced many areas throughout the country. Obviously we are very interested in promoting that aspect.
In our scheme for private grants we have included a regulation whereby an applicant carrying out the work must take all reasonable steps to avoid any adverse effects on the environment. The Minister reserves the right to refuse grant aid where the Department consider that the work will be detrimental to the environment. Where there is the slightest doubt in regard to this matter our staff are instructed to contact the local authorities and the Office of Public Works so that a more proper adjudication can be made.
In this instance a request was made to our local management in Sligo by Woodland Investments Limited for an inspection by the forest service. That is the normal practice in responding to an application for a private forestry grant. No approval has issued. In fact, our inspectors expect to have discussions with Sligo County Council and at present they await a preliminary reply in writing from the county council so that the appropriate response can be made in this way. Despite the fact that no indication was given to the applicant that he would qualify — in fact, an indication may have been given that he would not qualify — for a grant, fencing has commenced.
This land was offered to the forestry service some years ago, and for obvious reasons — I do not want to prejudice the application beyond that — the forestry service were not interested in planting that land. At present we are awaiting a reply from Sligo County Council and in the meantime I will take whatever steps are available to me to ensure that any work in relation to planting does not proceed. I am not too sure as to my powers with regard to fencing. It is a separate matter and perhaps a matter which would not ultimately injure the environment. I take it that the question that both Deputies are interested in is the planting on that site, so we must await the deliberations of Sligo County Council.
I assure the House that not only in this case but right across the country we are concerned to continue on a major afforestation programme, to have the greatest sensitivity possible and to establish beyond doubt the best possible liaison with local authorities and with the Office of Public Works to ensure that our environment is not damaged by that development. I am conscious particularly of the site to which Deputy Nealon has referred and I am conscious of its historical and amenity value. I assure the House that the present position is that no grant has been approved. Any application for approval will get serious consideration. I have already indicated to the House how I will view an application of that kind in Sligo, or in any other part of the country, where I am satisfied that the development would infringe on and damage the natural environment.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 9 June 1988.