John Ellis
Ceist:8 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to introduce planning regulations with regard to all plantations in excess of five acres. [4938/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Plantations.
Kathleen Lynch
Ceist:101 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the lack of planning controls in relation to forestry plantations in close proximity to dwellinghouses, the plans, if any, he has to draft planning legislation in order to ensure that such development is subject to greater controls. [9242/95]
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:104 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to require planning permission and environmental impact statements for forestry plantings of under 200 acres in view of concern that such plantings, unless properly controlled, may pose a fire hazard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8782/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 101 and 104 together.
Planning permission, including environmental impact assessment, is required for initial afforestation where the area involved is more than 200 hectares and for the replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species if the area involved exceeds 10 hectares. Other forestry projects are exempted development for planning purposes and do not need permission.
The general question of forestry and planning will fall to be considered in the context of the sustainable development strategy which I am preparing and, more specifically, in the development of a national land use policy plan which the policy agreement A Government of Renewal also proposes. This will provide guidelines for both national policy decisions and planning authorities in relation to the location of agricultural, industrial, forestry, aquaculture and tourism developments.
I am, however, satisfied that the thresholds for EIA and planning permission must be reduced substantially and the matter is the subject of discussions between my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. On completion of these discussions, I propose to make appropriate amendments in the existing regulations which govern the matter.
When will the decision be taken? The matter is ongoing and is causing grave concern.
I do not know. I hope to be in a position to substantially reduce the threshold by the end of this year assuming I have the agreement of all concerned.