Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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776. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to improve the limited criteria that pertains to planning regulations for afforestation in view of the serious concerns of many persons and communities in areas such as west County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53392/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Initial afforestation is subject to a statutory development consent system under the Forestry Regulations 2017, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

The 2017 Regulations make specific provision for public consultation in the application and approval processes relating to afforestation developments. As part of the statutory public consultation process, site notices must be erected at all entrances (to the proposed site) onto the public road in respect of forestry licence applications.  Further, notice of applications are published on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website, under public consultation.  

My Department is currently reviewing the exempted development provisions under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, including pertaining to initial afforestation. As such, my Department is engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to this review and any required amendments to the legislation.