Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
2007. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences currently being processed that relate to applications under one hectare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2143/22]
View answerThere are 24 afforestation applications on hand with my Department with an area of less than 1 hectare. It is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting by removing the licensing requirement for areas not greater than one hectare, which may prove to be a barrier to such planting and be considered onerous and complex.
Such an exemption would be available as part of a scheme which my Department intends to design and implement once the required legislative change is in place.
As you may be aware I am seeking to amend the Forestry Act 2014 to facilitate such planting, with an exemption available for
i) an area of not less than 0.1 hectare and not greater than 1 hectare, or
ii) an area of not less than 0.1 hectare that is not greater than 20 metres in width
and this amendment is currently moving through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
