Vol. 404 No. 7
20 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to have discussions with the Minister for Energy with a view to including in county development plans a meaningful forestry provision which would be in keeping with environmental needs.
Under the environmental action programme, the Minister for Energy is preparing guidelines for planting to take account of the protection of amenity, landscape and of other environmental considerations. Consultations are taking place between my Department and the Department of Energy regarding the content of the guidelines. When these are available, it will be a matter for each planning authority to have regard to them, as appropriate, when reviewing their development plans. Local planning authorities may also include in their plans provision for the protection of existing trees and woodlands.
