I propose to take Questions Nos. 1228 to 1230, inclusive, together.
The Department's Forestry related Circular 5 of 2021 outlines the advice my Department received from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to the “replacement of Broadleaf High Forest with conifer species”.
The Circular outlined the situations where planning permission from the Local Authority is required when replacing Broadleaf High Forest with Conifer species and when planning permission is not required. The requirement for planning does not take into account the disease status of the Broadleaf High Forest.
Contact has been made between my Department's officials and their counterparts in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this issue as outlined at the meeting with the Oireachtas Committee. We are exploring potential alternatives to the current system that requires both planning permission and a felling licence (or exemption from a felling licence).
Applicants can propose any species or range of species they wish including mixtures under the Reconstitution and Underplanting scheme. In relation to the current situation where planning permission is required in some instances, the interpretation of this where nurse species are proposed, or where there are doubts whether Planning permission is required, is ultimately for each Local Authority to decide.
My Department will update in due course on developments.