Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 617: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the requirements for valid appeals against afforestation permissions. [29188/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The forest service of the Department of Agriculture and Food operates a public consultation procedure for afforestation proposals in environmentally sensitive areas, as defined under the European Communities Environmental Impact Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, SI 538 of 2001. Observations and objections from prescribed bodies and from members of the public are invited and assessed. If, following assessment, it is decided to approve the proposed afforestation, each of the parties who objected originally is notified in writing of the decision to proceed. Appeals against that decision must be lodged within 21 days of receipt of the notification from the forest service.

All appeals must be made in writing, setting out the grounds of appeal and addressed to the appeal unit, forest service, the Department of Agriculture and Food, Johnstown Castle Estate, County Wexford.