The legislative change will simplify the process of replacing dying ash trees, says the IFA.
ADVERTISEMENT
A planning exemption to allow farmers replace up to 10ha of diseased ash trees with a conifer species is a “positive” step, according to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
IFA farm forestry chair Jason Fleming said that the legislative change which enables a farmer or landowner to replace up to 10ha of any diseased broadleaf high forest will “simplify the application process”.
He said that up to now, the requirement to apply for planning permission under the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme - Ash Dieback (RUS) was delaying the application process and adding “unnecessary bureaucracy” to managing the ash dieback disease.
ADVERTISEMENT
Farmer benefit
Farmers whose replanting applications were being processed under the RUS scheme, and have yet to be decided upon, will benefit from the legislative change, Fleming suggested.
All applications will still be required to be screened by the Department of Agriculture for environmental impact assessment (EIA) and appropriate assessment (AA).
“I hope this legislative change, as well as the Minister’s commitment to review the RUS scheme in early 2023, signal a new willingness to better support farmers affected by this devastating disease,” Fleming said.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
A planning exemption to allow farmers replace up to 10ha of diseased ash trees with a conifer species is a “positive” step, according to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
IFA farm forestry chair Jason Fleming said that the legislative change which enables a farmer or landowner to replace up to 10ha of any diseased broadleaf high forest will “simplify the application process”.
He said that up to now, the requirement to apply for planning permission under the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme - Ash Dieback (RUS) was delaying the application process and adding “unnecessary bureaucracy” to managing the ash dieback disease.
Farmer benefit
Farmers whose replanting applications were being processed under the RUS scheme, and have yet to be decided upon, will benefit from the legislative change, Fleming suggested.
All applications will still be required to be screened by the Department of Agriculture for environmental impact assessment (EIA) and appropriate assessment (AA).
“I hope this legislative change, as well as the Minister’s commitment to review the RUS scheme in early 2023, signal a new willingness to better support farmers affected by this devastating disease,” Fleming said.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS