Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Afforestation Programme.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

78 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the condition of the 2000 general felling licence issued to Coillte Teoranta, which excluded felling in designated sensitive landscapes for felling in county development plans or areas otherwise sensitive and for proposals within proposed or actual natural heritage areas, special areas of conservation and areas covered by the EU Birds Directive or the EU Habitats Directive, which have been replaced in the 2002 general licence by sensitive areas identified as a result of the Coillte Teoranta and the Forest Service joint inspections; the dates, nature and extent of the Coillte Teoranta and Forest Service joint inspections taken in relation to this condition for the 2002 general felling licence; and his views on whether it is inappropriate to include Coillte Teoranta as a party to the considerations of the sensitivity of sites which can be licensed under a general felling licence in that Coillte Teoranta is the commercial body which will benefit from any such determination. [22327/02]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

Coillte Teoranta is not a party to the consideration of environmental sensitivities of sites. In fact, all decisions relating to the inclusion of areas in the general felling licence and the treatment of environmental considerations are the sole responsibility of the Forest Service. Coillte Teoranta is involved only in its role as landowner.

The procedures in relation to the annual general felling licence are subject to ongoing review. The procedures currently in place represent a significant strengthening of the Forest Service controls in the felling area. Prior to 2001 inspections of areas covered by general felling licences were carried out subsequent to felling in accordance with the Forest Service's audit of felling. The changes in procedure in relation to Coillte Teoranta's general felling licence for 2002 were brought about in order to facilitate Forest Service inspections of silvicultural and environmental considerations at the local level in respect of each area on the general felling licence application prior to felling.

The aim of the new procedures is, inter alia, to identify and to exclude areas considered sensitive by the Forest Service from the general felling licence procedure. These areas were to be dealt with under the limited felling licence procedure. However, it would appear that a number of such sites were in fact dealt with under the general felling licence procedure. I have asked my Department to look into this matter and will revert to the Deputy in due course.

The use of the expression "joint inspections" in this context is misleading as the selection of sites for inclusion in the general felling licence is the responsibility of the Forest Service. With regard to the meetings referred to, a list of sites was submitted by Coillte to the Forest Service in September 2001 for inclusion in their general felling licence for 2002. Subsequently, meetings took place in October and November 2002 between Forest Service district inspectors and Coillte's local managers to enable the Forest Service decide whether the proposed sites should be included in the licence; whether the limited felling licence procedure should apply or whether sites listed in the application should be withdrawn.

The silvicultural and environmental details of all sites were examined. To facilitate the audit trail, the forest service inspector and the relevant Coillte manager signed off a record of the inspector's recommendations.