Michael Healy-Rae
Question:250. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16079/21]
View answerThursday, 25 March 2021
Questions (250)
Written answers
An application for an afforestation licence and the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was received in October 2019 for the person named and has been referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit. The application site is near eight designated sites including the Killarney National Park SPA. Therefore, the impact of any afforestation operations on the sites and the surrounding area, must be carefully considered before deciding on the licence application.
If the applicant wishes they may provide a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). The NIS must be prepared by a suitably qualified person. An NIS can considerably reduce the time taken to assess the application, as once received, the NIS will be examined by an ecologist within two to three months and a decision will issue once the assessment of the application is complete.