Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
695. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date an afforestation grant and premium scheme application was made by a person (details supplied); the outcome of this application; if the application was approved; if not, the reason for its refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53967/21]
View answerAn afforestation licence was issued in April, 2021 to the applicant and this decision was appealed to the independent Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC).
The FAC operates independently of my Department. I have been informed that the FAC received four valid appeals against the decision of my Department to approve this afforestation application and heard the appeals on 14 September 2021. The FAC has since issued a decision on 26 October 2021 to allow the appeal and set aside the original decision of my Department which means the original licence is cancelled.
Once the decision of the FAC was received, my Department issued a letter to the licensee on 29th October, 2021 advising that on foot of the FAC decision the licence was cancelled. It is open to the applicant to reapply for the same site if they so wish taking into account the findings of the appeal hearing.
The FAC has issued its decision to the parties to the appeal and has published its decision on the FAC’s section of the Agriculture Appeals Office website, the decision letter can be viewed at the following link: www.agriappeals.gov.ie/media/agriappeals/content/facdecisions/2021/october/29102021/CN83087011121.pdf. The reasons for the appeal decision by the FAC are set out in the decision letter.
