Vol. 568 No. 1
437 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is no longer the policy of the forestry service to grant aid applications on bogs and peaty soils due to the low yield class possible and the release of carbon sequestered in these soils. [15305/03]
438 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the farmers premium for afforestation is only paid to farmers who are resident within 70 miles of the grant aided plantation. [15306/03]
439 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if turbary rights are formally extinguished before approval of afforestation projects, including the placing of a public sign on the bogs in the locations turbary rights are to be extinguished. [15307/03]
440 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if pre-planting archaeological surveys are undertaken of areas proposed for forestry in sensitive areas. [15308/03]
441 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the cumulative effects of afforesting are being subject to a suitable environmental impact assessment in areas such as Rockchapel and Coolea in County Cork. [15309/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 to 441, inclusive, together.
These questions relate to a specific afforestation project in the Coolea area of County Cork. Approval for the project issued in January 2003 having followed the appropriate pre-planting approval procedure.
There were no recorded archaeological sites on the land in question. However, I understand that during the planting of the site some unrecorded archaeology was discovered. As soon as the forest service was notified its own archaeologist immediately undertook an archaeological examination of the site. The results of that examination were subsequently notified to Dúchas, which is satisfied that the correct protocol for such cases was followed. Furthermore the forest service has instructed the contracting forestry company to ensure that there is an archaeologist on site during any further cultivation of the site and to ensure that the afforestation is established in accordance with the forest service forestry and archaeology guidelines and the recommendations of Dúchas.
The forest service is satisfied that the site in question is capable of producing a commercial crop of timber and that the development is compatible with the protection of the environment. In addition, the requirements for grant approval include the condition that the rights or encumbrances enjoyed by others, for example, turbary rights, must be relinquished. It is not necessary for the applicant to place public signs to this effect. However, formal proof in this regard is required before payment of any grant can be authorised. It is a condition of qualification for the farmer rate of premium that the applicant resides on a permanent basis within 70 miles of the forest plantation. No application for premium payment in the case in question has been received to date.
The forest service is conscious of the cumulative effects of forestry in specific areas. Current arrangements provide for environmental impact assessments where considered appropriate and this issue is also being addressed in the context of the formulation by the forest service of indicative forest strategies.
