Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
1618. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); the stage this application is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27188/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was received on behalf of the person named in December 2016. Part of the proposed site is adjacent to Toome Lough, which had recently supported a pair of breeding Curlew, a red-listed species.
The applicant and his registered forester were requested to carry out a species appropriate survey during the breeding season to confirm the existence of breeding curlew. This report was received and will be reviewed by my Department's Ecologist before it is forwarded to the Forest Service Inspector for their final recommendations. Once the Inspector's recommendations are received, a final decision will issue to the applicant.
A separate application had been received on behalf of the person named in August 2016. The applicant and his forester were advised that one plot was not suitable for afforestation due to shallow soils. Part of this particular plot is determined to be non-utilisable agricultural land. A request was made for a drainage survey on other plots in this application and for a revised bio-diversity map to highlight and account for retained hedges/scrub and other unplanted areas. A response from the applicant and his forester is still outstanding and the application cannot be progressed until this is received.
