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Afforestation Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Ceisteanna (470)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

470. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the issue of further afforestation in areas with poorly buffered soils under new afforestation management and environmental procedures that are applicable for a number of years; the number of applications for planting refused in each of the years 2008 to 2017, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39500/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department's afforestation scheme includes a number of measures that ensure that afforestation is carried out on appropriate sites while taking into account any environmental considerations that might exist.

All new forests must be established in compliance with national and EU legislation and the Department’s requirements as set out in the Forestry Standards Manual, Scheme Documents, Code of Best Practice – Ireland and the suite of environmental guidelines including the Environmental Requirements introduced in December 2016, to ensure that the establishment of new forests is carried out in a way that is compatible with the protection and enhancement of our environment, particularly in relation to water, biodiversity, archaeology, soil type and the landscape. This is a basic requirement under environmental legislation and State aid rules underpinning the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme.

The number of applications for planting refused in each of the years 2008 to 2017 are shown in the table.

Afforestation refusals 2008-2017

COUNTY

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Totals

Carlow

1

1

2

4

Cavan

2

2

1

6

7

1

1

20

Clare

14

6

3

6

14

25

19

14

8

2

111

Cork

2

2

17

17

3

12

10

8

3

2

76

Donegal

3

5

5

2

1

3

1

2

1

23

Dublin

1

1

2

Galway

4

10

8

9

9

10

10

12

7

1

80

Kerry

17

16

27

23

8

33

8

11

5

148

Kildare

1

1

2

1

5

Kilkenny

1

1

1

2

2

7

Laois

1

1

1

5

1

4

5

1

4

1

24

Leitrim

2

1

3

6

7

7

5

31

Limerick

8

6

4

6

3

13

6

8

1

55

Longford

1

1

1

2

3

3

2

1

14

Mayo

3

10

9

2

6

13

3

2

48

Meath

1

1

2

1

5

Monaghan

1

1

2

Offaly

1

4

7

5

9

7

3

1

4

41

Roscommon

1

3

4

5

13

21

9

11

7

4

78

Sligo

3

1

2

5

5

17

7

11

3

54

Tipperary

5

17

12

9

4

13

15

3

3

2

83

Waterford

1

1

3

1

2

8

Westmeath

1

4

1

1

4

5

1

2

19

Wexford

1

1

3

2

1

8

Wicklow

1

3

3

2

2

11

Totals

66

76

94

120

96

189

126

116

45

29

957

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