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Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (658)

Matt Shanahan

Ceist:

658. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is now requiring a habitat map to be prepared by an independent ecologist at the applicant's expense before it will assess afforestation applications; his views on whether this should be completed by a Departmental forestry ecologist at his Department’s expense given that the forestry service has and is taking on additional ecologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60011/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Circular 08/2021, which issued to Registered Foresters on in June this year, outlined work my Department had carried out in reviewing systems for the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Screening Determinations, Appropriate Assessment Reports and Appropriate Assessment Determinations. These are the ecological assessments of forestry licence applications.

Improvements were made to systems to optimise the time of the ecologists to concentrate on the ecological aspects of each application. Registered foresters were advised of certain documents that would assist with processing applications.

As afforestation represents a land use change, the existing onsite habitats and their possible use by protected species require particular attention.

Registered Foresters were therefore advised that a Pre-Screening Report and associated Habitat & Receiving Environment Map along with an Ecological Report if there is any non-AA ecology related issue, were the appropriate documents for afforestation applications..

These documents are not mandatory, however, where they are presented with an application, that application will be prioritised for ecological assessment by Departmental ecologists who will prepare an ecology report as appropriate.

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