Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have had a difficulty in Wicklow, as the gentleman in the Visitors Gallery will know, with native woodland species because of deer. It qualifies under all other aspects but because of the deer threat it has not been quite so straightforward. The Forestry Service has started granting them again but it has been very difficult.

A locally-led environment scheme on its own is not going to do it. There is a €70 million pot there and even if it is €7 million over five years, that means half of it is gone. There is the freshwater pearl mussel, the Burren and couple of other projects lined up. On its own, no one thing will sort this out.

The afforestation programme is allocated €116 million or €118 million a year. Is all of that money being spent? Some of it could be spent to deal with this issue, but that is not permitted. There is a raft of options we should examine, including land values. If the committee is to make a submission, we need to know how to go about dealing with the issue. The delegates have done a good deal of work on it, but it will require the introduction of primary legislation, or at least an amendment to the Finance Act. I believe it is a good idea.