John Ellis
Ceist:94 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will pay a forestry premium to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [29669/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The forest service of my Department has recently written to the solicitors acting for the person in question requesting supporting documentation in relation to the person's eligibility for the farmer rate of forestry premium. Until such certification is provided it will not be possible to pay the premium in question.
John Perry
Ceist:95 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person's site (details supplied) in County Sligo for forestry plantation is situated in Glenrea Bonniconlon, which is approximately 15 miles from the Castlehill river, and not located adjacent to the Castlehill river, which is a tributary of the Lough Conn catchment; if he will review this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/00]
An application for grant aid for the afforestation of the area in question was refused in the past few weeks by the forest service of my Department in respect of 33 hectares of the 35 hectares submitted.
Refusal was primarily on the basis that the site was unlikely to produce a commercial crop of timber but also because the local authority had objected to planting on the peat soils on site.
A formal appeal by the applicant against the decision of the forest service lodged within the past week is currently being processed. It will be necessary for the site to be inspected again before a decision on the applicant's appeal will be made.