Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of the draft forestry and freshwater pearl mussel requirements and the moratorium on felling in the areas hosting the species; the number of hectares involved in each of the catchments; and the number and extent of suspended or pending forestry felling licenses involved. [28442/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published the Freshwater Pearl Mussel requirements in March 2008. These requirements were implemented from 31 March 2008. Consequently the moratorium on all clearfelling harvesting in Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchments has now been lifted.

The number of hectares licensed to date for clearfelling in each of the following catchments is as follows:

Munster Blackwater Catchment — 146.10 Ha's;

Bandon-Caha Catchment — 67.21 Ha's;

Aughavard Catchment — 11.00 Ha's;

Claddy Catchment — 13.60 Ha's;

Leannan Catchment — 48.90 Ha's;

Owenea Catchment — 40.20 Ha's;

Eske Catchment — 4.60 Ha's;

Owenriff Catchment — 17.80 Ha's;

Dawros Catchment — 5.80 Ha's;

Caragh Catchment — 22.80 Ha's;

Kerry Blackwater Catchment — 14.16 Ha's;

Newport Catchment — 21.30 Ha's;

Clodagh Catchment — 5.20 Ha's;

Licky Catchment — 94.60 Ha's.

A total of four licence applications are currently under consideration accounting for 108.24 Ha's of forestry. A further felling licence application for the clearfelling of 13.7 Ha's has been suspended.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason an analysis to establish the constraints and impacts at a high level for areas designated for the freshwater pearl mussel and to construct the principles through which new afforestation must proceed was absent from the strategic environmental assessment undertaken by his Department for the rural development plan 2006-2011; and his plans to address this issue. [28443/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 was a formal, systematic evaluation of the anticipated significant environmental effects of the Plan. The Environmental Report, undertaken as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, is a major assessment measure and sets out the conditions that are applied at implementation level. This report identifies threats to water quality as one of the potential adverse effects of forestry and pearl mussel habitats are highlighted in the context of introducing measures to improve water quality.

At implementation level, a range of assessment measures and guidelines act to counter the potential adverse effects with specific account taken of the freshwater pearl mussel. All applications for afforestation are subject to a detailed screening procedure to determine if an environmental impact assessment is necessary. The procedure includes specific reference to the freshwater pearl mussel and the hen harrier protocol. In addition, applications arising from within a designated site or within three kilometres upstream of such a site are referred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Finally, all forestry operations, including afforestation must be carried out in accordance with the published Code of Best Forest Practice and associated Guidelines including Forestry and Water Quality. Specific guidelines for the further protection of the freshwater pearl mussel: "Forestry and Freshwater Pearl Mussel Requirements — Site Assessment and Mitigation Measures" have now been drafted by the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Steering Group and are available on the Department's websitewww.agriculture.gov.ie. These requirements outline the methodologies relating to the protection of the fresh water pearl mussel during specific forestry operations including afforestation, clear felling and restocking.