Concerns raised in Dáil over Craggagh forestry plans

Deputy Alan Dillon has said a community near Balla are ‘fearful and apprehensive’ about plans to accommodate a large forestry plantation in their area. 

Residents of Craggagh have recently spoken out against plans for a French investment company to plant a new 15 hectare sitka spruce forest in the area.

The community is concerned about the impact of the trees on local waterways, their homes, particularly the decrease in their value  and the risk of forest fires.

Deputy Dillon shared the concerns of the community to the Dáil saying he wants to lend his ‘voice as their local representative about the ability of a small community like Craggagh, to accommodate large forestry plantations’.

“Especially when an area already hosts many similar plantations that have been met with significant opposition. Nearly 300 people have already signed a petition objecting to this forest proposition. Residents feel excluded from the decision making process as the department, not the council, hold full authority over this type of forest planting,” he added.

In the Dáil last night (Tuesday), Deputy Dillon urged Minister Neale Richmond - who spoke on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Pippa Hackett - to outline these concerns to Minister Hackett and her officials.

“The resources of Mayo should not be exploited by a foreign based company, and local residents deserve better than having their home surrounded by 30- 40-foot trees,” said Deputy Dillon. 

Speaking on behalf of Minister Hackett, Minister of the Department of Enterprise, Neale Richmond, said while he was not in a position to comment on individual applications for which the licence approval is ongoing.

However, he assured Deputy Dillon that there is a ‘robust, comprehensive, assessment, and a public consultation process in place to ensure all relative information is taken into account before permission to plant forest is granted’.

Minister Richmond brought attention to the €1.3 billion budget behind this forestry programme, to which Deputy Dillon responded: “While I welcome the terms of [the] forestry programme and strategy, the Government must be aware that there can be an excess of good things in our rural areas”.

The Fine Gael TD said he is concerned that the amount of forestry in the small community ‘is not being factored in and the Government needs to ensure that this is within the recommended national average’.

“I think farmers are at the centre of this new strategy in terms of their commitment to plant trees and not just these foreign investor pension funds who are buying up large sways of land to make a quick buck at the behest of the local community” continued Deputy Dillon.

Minister Richmond reiterated that the Government takes matters like this ‘very seriously’ and agreed with Deputy Dillon on the need to encourage farmers to enter this process. 

Minister Richmond explained the benefits he has seen in his own local area regarding the planting of trees, saying there were benefits ‘in terms of tourism, farming, wood production and sheer beauty’.

However, he acknowledged that planting must be done in consultation ‘with the local community whether that's Tiknock or Craggagh’.

Deputy Dillon concluded saying that ‘a balance needs to be struck that respects the needs of the community and also our environmental commitments’.