Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if unmodified Departmental rules on unenclosed areas are creating barriers for applications on agriculturally marginal but forestry suitable land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37050/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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A decision was made by the Department to restrict the planting of unenclosed land in December 2010, to no more than 20% of any one application. It is the case therefore that this rule has the effect of reducing the proportion and total hectarage of planting on unenclosed land.

However, enclosed land is, in general, less fertile and more exposed than enclosed land and trees planted on unenclosed land generally do not perform as well as trees planted on soil types associated with enclosed land.

Prior to the decision to restrict planting of unenclosed land, a number studies supported the position that habitat types associated with unenclosed land are more environmentally sensitive than enclosed land.

The planting on unenclosed land will be reviewed in the context of Project Woodland.