Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
503. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what supports are available for forestry applicants to offset the costs of environmental impact assessment reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42698/23]
View answerI am happy to say that the new forestry programme includes an Environment Report Grant to ensure that applicants and their agents are reasonably reimbursed for the additional costs associated with the required standard and scope of the environmental reports submitted.
Environmental reports that are eligible for this grant may include:
– A Pre-Screening Report
– A Habitat Description and Map
– An Ecology Report covering non-Appropriate Assessment ecology requirements
– A Natura Impact Statement.
– Archaeology Impact Assessment
– Archaeology Monitoring Report
– Other reports, such as bird surveys, botanical surveys, water and landscape-related assessments and Environmental Impact Assessment Reports may also be required and are also eligible.
The grant rate is €450 per hectare for first hectare, €400 for second hectare, €350 for third hectare and €50 per ha for subsequent hectares to a maximum of 20 hectares
