Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of afforestation in County Leitrim which has been highlighted previously in the House. More than 18% of County Leitrim is under forestry. Arable land is being bought for plantation, with townland after townland being bought up and planted. People can no longer exist. This practice must be curtailed because European policy is that not more than 17% of a county should be under afforestation. The amount of land in County Leitrim under forest far exceeds 17% and the figure will continue to increase unless something is done. It is wrong that people who are not farmers are receiving grants to plant land, particularly in an area in which there is excessive forestry.

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