Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
1066. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the blanket ban on plantations on unenclosed land, which was introduced in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11322/21]
View answer1067. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a survey has been carried out on the capital value of unenclosed land as a result of the decision in 2010 to ban afforestation on unenclosed land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11323/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1066 and 1067 together.
The Department has not analysed the value of unenclosed land before or after the decision in 2010 limiting the amount of unenclosed land that can be planted in any one application.
The Department made the decision in 2010 to limit the amount of unenclosed land in any one application based on economic, environmental and value for money reasons. Last week, Minister Hackett announced Project Woodland which provides for the implementation of MacKinnon report. This includes the establishment of four working groups to tackle specifically the recommendations in the MacKinnon report and one of these will examine the issue of land suitability and land availability.
