Vol. 487 No. 5
123 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the restriction, if any, on a person (details supplied) who wishes to plant trees on approximately 141 acres of his land in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4502/98]
The position in relation to this matter is that the afforestation grant scheme and forest premium scheme, administered by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, are governed by European Council Regulation 2080/92. This regulation attaches environmental conditions to afforestation grantaid which require that all works grant-aided under the scheme must be compatible with protecting the environment. My Department gives technical advice to the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources on the environmental, and more specifically, the ecological implications of afforestation proposals.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the person concerned applied for an afforestation grant in 1996. The land in question is located in an area which is exceptionally diverse in habitats and species. Its most interesting ecological feature is the presence of orchid-rich calacreous grasslands, which are an annex I priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive. The area is also of geological, geomorphological and archaeological importance. It is botanically rich and varied, containing limestone and peat flora, and, in places, leaching has led to the development of calcifuge flora.
In the circumstances outlined above, my Department, when advice was sought, advised the Forest Service that the proposals were incompatible with protecting the environment. The decision as to whether a grant will be paid or not is a matter for the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.
