Vol. 454 No. 6
14 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his Department has consulted the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the proposed new afforestation programme; and if he will make a statement regarding the programme and the co-ordination which will be necessary between his Department and the Environmental Protection Agency concerning forestry development. [10697/95]
Compatibility of forestry development with the environment is an important element of our programme, and indeed is a basic condition of grant-aid. A variety of measures are taken by my Department in this context, including prior consultation with relevant State agencies on listed environmentally sensitive areas, the publication of guidelines on forestry development and the landscape, fisheries and archaeology, grant incentives for diversity in planting, with a particular emphasis on broadleaves, and the development of amenity and recreation schemes. A number of these pre-date the operational, as distinct from the legislative, establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Under section 52 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, the main functions of the Environmental Protection Agency are: integrated licensing and control; monitoring of the environment; provision of environmental support and advisory services to local authorities; and promotion and co-ordination of environmental research.
Section 55 also provides that the agency may provide information or advice to Ministers, on request or on its own volition, on environmental matters including: amendment or implementation of any international obligation; proposals for legislative change; guidelines, standards and other matters relating to environmental protection; and particular environmental issues or problems. It is also a function of the Environmental Protection Agency under section 52 to keep itself informed of policies and objectives of public authorities whose functions have or may have a bearing on its activities.
My Department has not to date found it necessary to consult the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to our forestry programme, nor has the Environmental Protection Agency found it necessary to approach my Department requesting information or offering advice and — or recommendations on our forestry policy and practices. I have no doubt that such approaches would be made if in the future either party felt it desirable or necessary to do so.
I am glad the Minister of State has admitted that the Department does not consult with the Environmental Protection Agency on the adverse effects of forestry on fish life in rivers in certain areas of the west. I was more or less aware of this. Will the Minister of State ask the Environmental Protection Agency to make available to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry the information it has on the adverse effects of forestry on fish life in lakes and rivers in the west?
If that report is available, Department officials will welcome it. Other agencies such as local authorities and the Office of Public Works are involved and we consult them on a regular basis. In fact, 20 per cent of applications have been deferred and in some cases refused following consultation with the local authorities or the Office of Public Works. We have a very strict environmental regime in place and we are looking at ways to improve it.
The problems the Deputy outlines arise from decisions taken during the term of office of his party.
Get real.
We are in office six months and the trees did not grow just in the past six months. When we produce our strategy for forestry we will ensure that it will be environmentally friendly and we will take all possible measures to consult with people. What will be put in place will have credibility.
Taking up where Deputy Hyland left off.
In my question I asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry to make a statement regarding the programme and the co-ordination which will be necessary between his Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Is the Minister of State telling us he does not envisage having to become involved with the Environmental Protection Agency and that his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, will have responsibility for implementing all environmental protection measures, even for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry?
If it is warranted, it will be done and if this report is available I will be seeking it for my Department. An environmental impact assessment must be carried out in respect of any forestry development over 200 hectares. In addition, forestry must not be planted within 30 metres of houses. All these matters will be addressed under the new strategy and I assure the Deputy that the concerns he raised today will be addressed. There is vast potential for forestry development but it must be done while being sensitive to environmental needs. I am glad the Deputy drew my attention to the existence of a study and I will seek to obtain it immediately for my Department.
Who will be responsible for the threshold for environmental impact investments and for obtaining planning permission for forestry development?
This is not covered in the question I was asked, but our forestry department will be responsible for all matters affecting our forestry programme.
Let me draw the attention of the Minister of State to the fact that his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, stated in the House two weeks ago that he, not the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, would have responsibility.
Our Department will be responsible for all matters that we deem affect the implementation of our forestry programme.
Will the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry give closer consideration to applications for planning between the road and the sea in environmentally sensitive areas, particularly areas of great scenic amenity, in the light of the fact that a development might obstruct the view when the trees grow?
This is a recurrent problem and opposition has been voiced previously about the proliferation of planting in scenic areas. However, there must be a balance. This matter will be addressed in the new strategy for forestry development because it is important to have a clear-cut policy for planting in scenic areas. To date there have been contradictions where some forestry has been allowed whereas applications for contiguous planting have been refused. There is an example of that in the Deputy's own constituency. We need clear guidelines for planting in scenic areas and developers must comply with restrictions because they too have responsibilities for the environment.
