Concern over 'lack of oversight' for forestry projects

There are concerns that forestry developments are being granted planning permission without the usual protocols that apply to other applicants.

Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly has asked Mayo County Council to clarify the protocols for the planning office regarding making a submission or commentary on forestry applications.

Specifically, if Mayo County Council is notified about all applications for new forestry applications in the county and what applications do Mayo County Council make submissions or commentary on.

The local authority said it receives consultee requests from the Department of Agriculture in relation to forestry licence applications. Mayo County Council may make observations on landscape sensitivity, amenity or other grounds. The council carries out a desk-based assessment of the proposed development and where warranted a site visit may be carried out and report submitted to the Department, Cllr Munnelly fears forestry applications are being allowed to get through without adequate oversight.

“There are lots of applications for forestry that Mayo County Council do not make any submissions on which is shocking. There is a lot of these happening in North Mayo. If you are to put up 10 houses in parts of Lacken or Ballycastle, the council would be all over you,” he told the Western People.

He pointed to a lack of independent administration of forestry applications.

The poacher and the gamekeeper are the same in this situation. The Department of Forestry, licences forestry applications. It’s a bit like asking an alcoholic to regulate drink sales. It’s crazy. And when Mayo County Council are being sent the applications they are not commenting on it. That’s the part that I’m outraged by,” said Cllr Munnelly “We are making building single houses in the countryside jump through hoops but then there is a forestry application coming in that can have an enormous impact on a local area and in lots of instances the county council is not bothering to make submissions on it,” he added.

Cllr Munnelly is calling on Mayo County Council to get out on the ground and inspect every forestry application. He said if more time is required to assess applications then the Department should be written to.

“Making no submissions is not acceptable,” he stated.