Vol. 513 No. 3
228 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the regulations requiring that afforestation should not take place within 60 metres of a dwelling house also include a requirement that new dwelling houses should not be built within 60 metres of a forest area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2461/00]
Under the afforestation grant and premium scheme administered by the forest service of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the required setback distance for grant-aided forestry plantations is 60 metres from occupied dwellings and associated buildings, except with the owner's consent, in which case 30 metres applies. This provision has been restated in my Department's draft guidelines for planning authorities on forestry development.
There is no provision under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts or regulations requiring that a new dwelling house be sited a specific distance from a forest area.
