John Ellis
Ceist:232 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the additional regulations, if any, he proposes to add to the current list of regulations to be followed where new plantations are being put in place. [5089/96]
Written Answers. - Forestry Regulations.
The Department's administrative and technical guidelines which apply to forestry developments are being reviewed at present.
In relation to environmental controls on forestry, my Department is currently engaged in discussions with the Department of the Environment in relation to both a reduction of the current thresholds for planning permission and environmental impact assessment for afforestation projects and the introduction of a provision for add-on or incremental forestry development.
I will also be regularly reviewing, as a matter of course, all environmental controls of forestry including the existing guidelines on fisheries, archaeology and landscape issues.