Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2021
391. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any of the mini-woodland planting under the new agri-environmental Hares Corner project requires an afforestation licence; if there is specific forestry profession input into the various silvicultural practices involved in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/21]
View answerThe Hares Corner project is operationally independent of my Department and is run by the Hares Corner project team. €71,760 has been allocated by my Department to this project under the RDP.
None of the mini-woodland planting in the Hare's Corner Project will require an afforestation license as the areas to be planted will essentially be small field corners or extensions of hedgerows etc. None will exceed, and most will be much less than, 0.1ha in size - the current permissible limit for woodland planting without a license. The project group will be guided at all times by inputs from a registered professional forester who is also a member of the Operational Group of the project.
