Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
709. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his officials have been in contact with their counterparts in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the issue of planning permission and ash dieback in the week commencing 9 May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25919/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022, which was published earlier this year, we have committed to refocusing on the delivery on approvals for the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback).
It is the case that many RUS applications are screened in for Appropriate Assessment and are referred to ecology. Of these, any that propose replacing the ash crop with conifer species currently require planning permission. My Department is continuing to engage with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage, with a view to amending legislation to remove the planning permission requirement in cases involving the replacement of broadleaf with conifers on sites under 10 ha.
