Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
351. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the environmental grant as outlined in circular 13/2022 is designed to cover all the costs of environmental reports as required by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36959/22]
View answerThe Mackinnon report, which reviewed the forestry licensing approval process, recommended that where an environment report is required it be supported by an associated planning grant. This aim of such a grant is to improve the quality of afforestation applications in particular as they address environmental aspects, to increase the throughput of applications by my Department and to ensure applicants and their agents are reasonably reimbursed for the additional costs associated with the required standard and scope of environmental reports.
My Department has now introduced an environmental grant which will form part of the 1st instalment Afforestation grant to be paid in 2022, in cases where an environmental report has been submitted. This additional grant payment pays €450/ hectare for the first hectare, €400 for the second hectare, €350 for the third hectare and €50/hectare from 4 hectares capped at 20 hectares.
There is a wide variation in the cost of environmental reports depending on the circumstances of each case. Most will require a habitat map but some will require more than one report. This payment regime covers the average cost of such reports and is in general expected to cover the costs incurred for most sites.
There is no extra burden on applicants or their registered foresters in accessing this payment, as we will accept their Form 2 application as sufficient to apply for the grant and we do not require the submission of invoices to support the payment.
