Austin Deasy
Question:62 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether the planting of trees on relatively good agricultural land is creating major problems for adjoining small farmers. [14570/95]
Written Answers. - Tree Planting.
Irrespective of the quality of the land involved, the use of agricultural land for forestry is a matter for the landowner in question. In so far as privately-owned lands are concerned, 71 per cent of new planting is undertaken by farmers themselves. This equates to almost 50 per cent of all new planting.
In so far as afforestation by Coillte and other non-farmers is concerned, the constitutional rights of landowners to use and dispose of their private property as they see fit must be respected. It must be assumed that where a farmer or other landowner sells land to a forestry company for afforestation purposes it is because this offers the most beneficial option. Afforestation is subject to appropriate environmental controls which are at present being renewed.
I would accept that from time to time local difficulties have arisen in relation to the afforestation of certain agricultural lands. I am assured that, for its part Coillte Teoranta operates a policy of seeking to facilitate, wherever possible, local interests.