Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 16, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(i) existing levels of afforestation adjacent to domestic dwellings,".

This amendment is proposing that one of the criteria to be taken into account before the Minister approves a scheme is the existing levels of afforestation adjacent to domestic dwellings. The amendment does not seek to constrain the Government in designing the scheme but simply asks that when people seek to avail of it, due consideration is given to the existing afforestation in the same manner as other criteria which are already included in the Bill, such as public safety and pest control. The rationale for this amendment is that we have seen in certain parts of the country, particularly around Leitrim, communities that have been inundated with forestry plantations. They have walls of conifers and their light and views are blocked. In addition, with forestry plantations many jobs leave the area because the land has been transferred from agriculture to forestry. We do not want to add to the burden of those who have been inundated with forestry plantations. That is the rationale for the amendment. One only has to go to those parts of the country to see our reason for this. The existing levels of afforestation should be taken into account in the criteria.