Planning permission is required for initial afforestation where the area involved is greater than 200 hectares and developments of this nature are subject to environmental impact assessment through the planning process. In addition, section 21 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1990, empowers a local authority to make, with the approval of the Minister for the Environment, by-laws for preventing or eliminating the entry of polluting matter to waters from certain uses of land, including forestry.
A review of the various controls which apply to forestry development is being undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; the relevant planning and environmental controls will be considered in that context in consultation with my Department.