Afforestation Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Ceisteanna (1524, 1525, 1526)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1616 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has considered, in the context of the ongoing review of afforestation, premia including areas of scrubland as eligible for such premia to allow the increase of the national forest estate without the need for payment of establishment grants and to reduce the number of wildfires used for controlled management of agricultural holdings to qualify for single farm payments and disadvantaged area payments. [33411/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

I share the Deputy's concern about the impact of recent wildfires on the national forest estate and on wildlife habitats.

My Department has established an inter-agency group (Land and Forest Fires Working Group) to examine the issue and make recommendations to strengthen preventative measures and minimise the occurrence and impact of forest fires.

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1617 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the proposed scheme in the Revised Programme for Government through which some of the moneys currently set aside to purchase carbon credits abroad will be diverted for forestry investment here. [33412/10]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

The scheme referred to is being considered in the context of the National Forestry Policy Review which is due to complete its work by the end of the year.

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1618 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a list of derogations from the obligation to replant forestry given in the past five years, distinguishing between those given on environmental grounds and those given for commercial purposes. [33420/10]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith)

There have been no derogations from replanting obligations given in the last five years. However, extensions to the period allowed for replanting have been granted to Coillte Teo in respect of:

1. The Western Peatlands Life Project. These extensions were allowed to enable Coillte, for environmental reasons, to devise a suitable, environmentally friendly replanting plan.

2. The control of pine weevil by the creation of buffer zones to stop the spread of pine weevil. This extension is to facilitate an experimental approach to the control of the weevil. It is hoped it will produce an environmentally friendly solution that will also be commercially beneficial.

These areas will be replanted in due course. The following is a list of these extensions.

Licence number	Property	County	Area	Reason for deferral	Date of deferral
510664	Shinnanagh	Galway	12.90	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5109114	Bunnakill	Galway	13.90	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5207253	Cartron	Mayo	24.50	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210230	Tawnykinaff	Mayo	40.30	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210240	Glenturk	Mayo	15.50	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210260	Bellagelly/Glenamoy	Mayo	16.70	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210272	Crocknacally/Cluddaun	Mayo	17.40	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210297	Gortleatilla	Mayo	16.80	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
52101517	Glenamoy	Mayo	32.30	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5103111	Finnaun	Galway	43.50	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5103134	Finnaun	Galway	4.10	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			7.00	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			18.60	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5103135	Finnaun	Galway	12.20	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5103138	Finnaun	Galway	17.00	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			4.20	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			18.50	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			25.30	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5103139	Finnaun	Galway	17.80	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			49.10	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5207194	Letterkeen	Mayo	2.90	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			10.60	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5207284	Srahmore	Mayo	21.20	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			4.30	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			22.00	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			1.30	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5207304	Letterkeen	Mayo	10.50	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5207314	Srahmore	Mayo	23.20	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210246	Lugnalettin	Mayo	19.70	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210247	Bellagelly South (Glenamoy)	Mayo	16.10	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210288	Lugnalettin	Mayo	25.10	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
5210305	Glenturk	Mayo	18.70	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
GY240219	Glencullin	Mayo	5.30	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
			44.90	Western Peatland Project	10/06/2008
GFL4669	Tiknock	Co Dublin	7.00	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL5173			5.00	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL5173	Monksland	Roscommon	26.14	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
			18.15	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Carrowbehy	Roscommon	18.50	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Tooreennascarthy	Kerry	20.42	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
FL3214457	Inchee	Kerry	1.76	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Crocknagapple	Donegal	21.90	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Tievetooey	Donegal	15.60	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Seadavog	Donegal	8.60	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFLDL310045			12.92	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFLDL310046			1.28	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Kilbraugh	Tipperary	4.90	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	Lugnalettin	Mayo	24.34	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
licenced under 2004 GFL	Meentinny	Cork	20.00	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL4669	Cummery Connell	Cork	8.00	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL5173	Bottle Hill	Cork	7.41	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL5173			6.88	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL5173			12.10	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806	The Demesne	Cork	10.58	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008
GFL 5806			18.58	Control of Pine Weevil	03/12/2008