Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will honour her pre-election commitment to the forestry sector on re-afforestation after harvesting. [27093/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has completed a comprehensive review of the Forestry Act 1946 and draft Heads of a new Forestry Bill have been prepared. The proposed legislation will address many of the issues raised during the extensive consultation process undertaken by my Department. As I stated in May, allowing a change of land use in certain limited circumstances will be one such issue.

In drawing up the new Bill it is proposed to take a more flexible approach regarding the question of replanting after harvesting. The general principle of replanting after felling will remain in order to ensure that the national forest estate is not progressively eliminated. The draft Scheme of the new Forestry Bill will be submitted to Government shortly for approval to send to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.