Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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396. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 771 of 27 September 2016, the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32923/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Department received an application from Mr. Maguire on 25 August 2015. On 21 December 2015 a refusal letter issued to the applicant stating that the land is not suitable because it is not capable of producing a commercial broadleaf crop and therefore the application is outside the scope of the Scheme.

This site was deemed not suitable for the planting of trees under the Native Woodland Scheme because of poor fertility, poor drainage and its altitude.

On 29 April 2016, the applicant lodged an appeal. The appeal was referred to the Forestry Appeals Committee and an appeal decision letter issued to the Applicant on 20 July 2016.

The Appeals Committee has examined the appeal and decided that it was unsuccessful. The site proposed for afforestation must be capable of growing a vigorous crop of broadleaves throughout the rotation. The committee found that the site is not suitable for growing broadleaves due to fertility and requirement for repeated applications of fertiliser, including drainage. The site was deemed more suited to growing conifers and the committee found that a revised application can be considered if water sampling is carried out in accordance with the Acid Sensitive Protocol as described in the Forestry Schemes Manual Appendix 11.

As the site is acid sensitive, the applicant has been advised (by phone) to discuss any further applications with the local District Inspector.