Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1275. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a landowner intends to plant an area greater than 0.10 ha and less than 1.00 ha without relying on any form of State aid, the specific circumstances in which an appropriate assessment or environmental study is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37833/23]
View answerIf a landowner wishes to afforest an area of greater than 0.10 hectare and not greater than 1 hectare without grant aid, they are required to apply for an afforestation licence.
My Department assesses all afforestation licence applications, i.e. grant-aided and non-grant aided, in the same manner. The updated Environmental Requirements for Afforestation document, which is available on the Department's website, includes the circumstances in which a report is required at the time of application.
In considering all applications for afforestation licences, my Department will screen for appropriate assessment, at which stage the need or otherwise for any further environmental reports would be established. Any reports required at this stage in the application would be requested from the applicant and their Registered Forester via a Request for Further Information.
If the landowner wishes to plant an area greater than 0.10 ha and less than 1.00 ha and would like to apply for grant aid then they may consider the Native Tree Area Scheme, which my Department intends to launch in the coming weeks. Eligibility criteria will be incorporated into the scheme which will ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner, without the requirement for an afforestation licence.
