The Minister of State with responsibility for forestry has confirmed that an application to plant forestry on lands close to Lough Gill at Innisfree in County Sligo has been refused.
Minister Andrew Doyle said the scale and impact of the proposed afforesdtation on the surrounding landscape and its proximity to Lough Gill were considered in making the decision.
The decision may be appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee.
Local Fine Gael activist Thomas Walsh says local people welcome the decision.
