Vol. 476 No. 2
242 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, of the review of controls on forestry development and effectiveness of planning controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6611/97]
The review has been completed and the provisions in relation to forestry development, planning permission and environmental impact assessment (EIA) were amended by the Minister for the Environment by regulations in April 1996. The regulations provided for a reduction in the threshold for planning permission and EIA for initial afforestation from 200 hectares to 70 hectares and a new provision whereby this threshold applies to add-on afforestation by an individual owner within a three year period.
