Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht fanacht agus bheith i láthair don díospóireacht seo. An t-ábhar atá faoi chaibidil ná na deontais atá ar fáil d'fheilmeoirí faoi na scéimeanna foraoiseachta agus na coinníollacha a ghabhann leis na deontais sin. Mar is eol don Aire, cuireadh an-fháilte roimh na scéimeanna difriúla plandáil chrann a tugadh ar aghaidh le blianta beaga anuas, agus go mór mhór i gceantair in iarthar na hÉireann a raibh drochthalamh iontu, ceapadh go raibh deis mhaith ag feilmeoirí cur lena n-ioncam agus úsáid thairbheach a bhaint as a gcuid talaimh dá mbeadh deis acu plandáil agus deontais a fháil dá réir. Go háirithe nuair a tugadh isteach na forest premiums cuireadh fáilte bhreise romhu.
What is involved here is the whole question of forest premiums and grants and the problem arising because such grants-premia are not being paid in respect of lands deemed to be in areas of scientific interest and-or of high scenic amenity in the county plans.
When forest grants were introduced, and particularly since the premia were introduced, many farmers have expressed great interest in planting. Such planting was viewed by farmers in marginal areas, particularly in western counties, as comprising a possible alternative enterprise for them, a method by which they could diversify their farming activities. There are already quotas with regard to milk. It would appear that sheep quotas could be introduced in the near future. Therefore farmers felt forestry would provide them with an alternative suitable outlet, in that it is suited to marginal lands. It has been recognised that some poorer agricultural soils are more than suitable for afforestation. In addition, in time, forestry provides spin-off industry and employment. As the Minister will be aware — since he was in our area recently opening a new timber mill — timber milling in the Connemara area is assuming greater importance in the provision of employment there than heretofore. This is a sector we envisage growing, particularly on account of added-value products. But the timber industry cannot expand unless there is an adequate supply of timber on stream.
There is now a general feeling in the west that many such schemes are introduced with much hype, when farmers and others are led to believe they will provide them with enormous income. Yet, when they apply under their provisions, they discover there are so many obstacles to be overcome, so many barriers put in their way, that they rarely ever achieve their objectives.
At present it would appear that, when a farmer applies for a forest grant, it will not be paid if the lands in question are located in an area of scientific interest. On face value that would appear to be a reasonable provision in that nobody wants such areas of scientific interest to be destroyed. Nobody involved in the development of the west would like to see areas of continuous scientific interest being planted. However, it would appear that large tracts of land with potential scientific interest were marked on maps, declared or deemed to be areas of scientific interest and effectively frozen or debarred from any type of development, particularly forestry, until the people who had so marked them had had an opportunity to carry out further research and investigations.
Many people are unaware of where these areas of scientific interest are located, their extent and whether their lands are located within such areas. They discover that their lands are located within such areas only when they apply for forestry or agricultural grants, leading to great resentment on the part of many farmers, in turn, leading them to believe that they are being discriminated against in some way. In addition each application for afforestation is referred to the local authority who are requested to make a decision on whether the area involved should be planted.
Go cinnte dearfa, i gcás na Gaillimhe, tá ceantar mór den chontae, ó thaobh chúrsaí pleanála de, atá leagtha amach mar "an area of outstanding scenic amenities". Ní miste liomsa go mbeadh na ceantair go bhfuil radharc ar lochanna, ar chnoic nó ar áiteanna speisialta i gceist, ach i gcás Chonamara tá bunáite an limistéir anois curtha faoin aicme áirithe seo agus, de réir mar a thuigimse an scéal, is é an nós atá ag an gcomhairle contae ná a rá, má chuireann duine isteach ar chrainn a chur i gceantair mar sin, gurbh fhear gan crainn a chur ansin. Tá samplaí agamsa d'fheilmeoirí a cuireadh as scéimeanna ach ní fhéadfaí a rá go millfeadh na scéimeanna seo radharc ar bith ar rud ar bith. Go deimhin féin, i go leor áiteanna, chuirfeadh se go mór le háilleacht na háite. I gcuid mhaith cásanna ní raibh plandáil mhór i gceist, b'fhéidir deich n-acra nó 15 acra, rud nach gcuirfeadh as do, agus nach mbrisfeadh, áilleacht na tuaithe i gceantair mar sin.
Tá sé in am go mbeadh tuiscint ag an bpobal ar céard atá ceadaithe agus ar céard nach bhfuil ceadaithe. Tá sé in am nach rialófar go héifeachtach bunáite thall i gConamara amach as an scéim seo, nó má tá a leithéid ann ba cheart léarscáil a fhoilsiú agus teacht amach go poiblí agus a rá, taobh istigh de mhórcheantair Chonamara, go mbeadh sé sé ina ASA nó ina cheantar atá leagtha amach sa county plan mar area of high scenic amenity, agus nach gceadófaí crainn a chur, agus nach mbeifí ag cur dallamullóige ar na daoine agus á gcur ó threoir.
It is very important that areas of high scenic amenity would not be ruled out in total and if they are ruled out in total it is about time that was stated. My own view is that there are many areas of high scenic amenity marked by the county council that would be unsuitable for other types of development but would be perfectly suitable for small-scale forestry development.
I am conscious of the need to protect the scenic views of Connemara. I have been critical of large-scale planting programmes that were taking over vast tracts of land. There is a big difference between that and the small farmer who wants to plant ten or 15 acres of marginal land to avail of these schemes. Regulations were introduced to control the wholesale planting of huge tracts of virgin bog and of areas where views of lakes and open mountainside would be spoilt. However, the scheme is going to ridiculous lengths to refuse grants in all areas designated under the county plan as areas of scenic amenity. I would like, therefore, to ask the Minister what is the policy of his Department regarding these grants? What is their attitude to the recommendations of the various county councils in the West? What is the attitude of his Department to these large areas of scientific interest that have been identified but not designated, that has been done without consultation and without detailed information being made available to local communities? Are the Department willing to examine each case on its merits, taking into account the species proposed to be planted, the size of the suggested development and the location and the possibility that it may interfere with an existing amenity?
It is important that this alternative outlet be available to farmers in marginal land areas. The farmers in these areas have few options. Sheep farming, dry stock farming and forestry are the main types of agriculture that suit these areas. It is very important that alternative and mixed enterprise be encouraged. In continental Europe the trend is to break up forest areas with pasture and pasture with forest; rather than plant in huge blocks, it is done on a divided basis. The designation of certain species to break the monotony of continuous planting of pine or spruce could be examined. Overall it is very important that farmers have a right, within reason, to plant and to avail of the grants open to them and I ask the Minister to give this matter serious concern.
