Seán Doherty
Question:253 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the regulations, if any, there are governing the planting of lands; and whether these regulations are statutorily based. [6893/96]
Written Answers. - Planting of Lands.
The grant-aiding of forested lands is administered by my Department under the Forestry Act, 1946 which Act also controls the felling of trees. Planting grants are paid subject to certain silvicultural environmental and eligibility conditions. The main planting scheme at present administered by my Department is the CAP afforestation grant scheme under Council Regulation 2080/92.
Consultation with other State agencies as regards listed sensitive environmental areas and application of this Department's guidelines on forestry development in relation to the landscape, archaeology and fisheries are conditions of grant aid. Environmental impact assessment controls on forestry development, which apply above certain thresholds, arise under the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1989 (S.I. No. 349/89). In addition, certain areas listed under the EU Directives on the Protection of Wild Birds (No. 79/409) and on the Protection of Natural Habitats (No. 92/43) are ineligible for grant aid as a condition of EU approval of the CAP afforestation scheme.