Michael Ring
Question:179. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry application by a person (details supplied) [17472/20]
View answerWednesday, 22 July 2020
Questions (179)
Written answers
Applications for forestry licences are processed under a formal consent system and every application must be carefully assessed for its potential impact on the surrounding countryside and environment. The application for afforestation by the person named is near to some designated sites and potential impacts on those sites must be considered. In this respect, the applicant submitted a Natura Impact Statement on 16 July, 2020.
In line with my Department's policy for those who submit an NIS, the file is now being given priority and has been returned to the Ecology Unit, where the NIS will be considered as part of the entire application under Appropriate Assessment (AA) procedures. When the AA is complete, it will be returned to the Forestry District Inspector who will complete his assessment of the application.