I propose to share my time with Deputy Ellis.
Private Members' Business. - Tree Planting.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I raise this issue because families all over the county I represent — and all over the country — object to the planting of trees near where they live. The only way to solve this problem to the betterment of the areas represented by Deputy Ellis and me is to put in place a proper planning instrument. The amount of acreage for which planning permission must be obtained should be reduced dramatically. For example, planning permission should be required for planting trees in any area over 15 to 20 acres. In Adoon and Garvagh a farm has been bought by an outside interest who wishes to plant the land with trees. If that plantation goes ahead a young family will be surrounded by trees; in ten or 15 years' time they will be unable to live in the area. They should have the right to object, and under the existing planning laws they do not have that right. I am aware that a person selling land is entitled to sell to whomever he or she wishes. However, as the planning laws stand local residents cannot object to tree planting unless there is a huge amount of land being planted.
Ironically, this week in the Leitrim Observer, there was a three-quarter page advertisement for forestry development in the area because of the enormous grant aid being made available. Most of the people applying for grant aid are outside large financial institutions. In the county that Deputy Ellis and I represent, people are being replaced by trees. If planting is not restricted that haemorrhage of people will continue, and in five or ten years' time neither Deputy Ellis nor I will have to opportunity to speak here because there will be nobody to vote for us.
I ask the Minister to look at this positively. All Governments have ignored this issue but at some stage one has to cry "stop". Now is the time to do that.
I thank Deputy Reynolds for allowing me to share time.
This is an issue which has been brought to our notice very vividly in recent weeks. There has been an ongoing problem of large financial institutions bidding against local farmers for land to plant it with trees. Institutions are prepared to pay £1,600 or £1,700 per acre for afforestation. It is impossible for farmers to purchase it for farming at those prices. It is unfair that there is assistance for afforestation but none for farmers who wish to purchase the land and maintain it for farm purposes. The net result of this sort of action will be depopulation, particularly in the western counties, in view of the crisis in farming.
I put down a question to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources in which I asked what action he proposed to take with regard to the estate in question. He now tells me that his Department has not yet carried out any assessment. I hope the technical assessments to be carried out will take into consideration the environmental damage caused by indiscriminate afforestation right across the country, not alone in Leitrim and Sligo and the west, but now even in the midland counties where recently a large farm was sold for afforestation at over £2,000 an acre.
I hope the Minister will be able to give a favourable reply so that we can ensure that the livelihood of the farmers affected by this case at Adoon and Garvagh, County Leitrim, will be safeguarded.
I am grateful to Deputies Reynolds and Ellis for raising the matter and giving me the opportunity to explain the position in relation to afforestation under the planning system.
In 1996, the maximum area of afforestation that could be developed without planning permission was reduced from 200 hectares to 70 hectares. An application for planning permission for such development must be accompanied by an environmental impact statement, which must be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.
In addition, since May 1996, the Forest Service notifies local authorities of all afforestation projects exceeding 25 hectares in respect of which grant applications are received. The Forest Service has also clarified and tightened the operation of forestry guidelines which contain provisions on the appropriate distance of forestry from houses.
My Department issued draft land use guidelines on forestry development earlier this year for comment. These guidelines are intended to help planning authorities, in consultation with the Forest Service of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, to ensure that commercial forestry is carried out in a sustainable way. They set out proposals under which local authorities may designate areas which they consider sensitive to forestry development. The sensitive areas would be based on factors such as the need to protect views and scenic areas, landscape quality, protection of the natural and archaeological heritage and the avoidance of rural isolation.
In these areas it is proposed that local authorities will be notified of all proposals for afforestation regardless of threshold, and the Forest Service will have regard to any observations made by the authorities when deciding grant applications. The draft guidelines in their final form have been the subject of discussions between my Department and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. The guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible.
In addition, the current review of the planning system is considering, inter alia, the possibility of amending the Planning and Development Acts to enable planning permission to be required for plantations which do not require an EIA.
The Government is committed to developing a strong forestry sector and recognises that the development of afforestation can make a positive contribution to the economy and the environment. I am confident that the improved controls referred to above will assist in ensuring that the afforestation programme will continue to contribute to Ireland's sustainable development while enhancing the environment where possible and at the very least avoiding any undue adverse effects on the environment.