Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 2

Written Answers. - Afforestation Programme.

Dan Boyle

Question:

87 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has plans for the introduction of a requirement for roadside signs to be placed on land subject to a forestry application giving details of the application in a similar manner to general planning permission notices; if there is a public register available listing applications for afforestation and decisions for the approval or rejection of forestry applications; the role the local authority has in the application process; if there is a requirement for the fisheries board to be consulted on decisions outside areas covered by the acidification protocol; and the way in which the current regulations allow for consultation on archaeological considerations where land due for afforestation has sites of archaeological interest which is not, by the current regulations, intensively used by the public or contains or adjoins a listed monument. [16011/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2001, contained in Statutory Instrument No. 538 of 2001, introduced, inter alia, a statutory consent system for afforestation. The regulations cover the consultation procedures for both prescribed bodies and the general public, together with environmental impact assessment procedures for afforestation.

By way of response to the particular queries raised, I do not have plans to introduce roadside signs for land subject to afforestation applications. A register of decisions to approve or reject afforestation in environmentally sensitive areas is available. Local authorities are consulted in respect of afforestation applications with scenic or landscape considerations and those greater than ten hectares near designated local authority water schemes. In addition, all applications for areas greater than 25 hectares are referred to local authorities.

Fishery boards are consulted as a matter of course in respect of afforestation applications greater than five hectares, which are designated as sensitive by the fishery boards and for applications greater than 40 hectares in locations which are designated as non-sensitive by the fishery boards. The heritage service of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, formerly Dúchas, is consulted as a matter of course in respect of afforestation applications in areas containing or adjoining listed archaeological sites or monuments.