asked the Minister for Energy if he has examined fully the new relationship between Coillte Teoranta and other planters; whether he envisages officers for the new semi-State company administering grants for the private sector; and the number of officers from his Department who will be involved in this area next year.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Planting Policy.
14.
I have considered the appropriate arrangements for the administration of the private planting grant schemes felling licence applications following the establishment of Coillte Teoranta. I have decided to retain the administrative sections dealing with these areas within the Department of Energy, while giving the inspection work to Coillte Teoranta on the agency basis.
I do not envisage any difficulties arising between Coillte Teoranta and other private planting interests from this arrangement.
It is envisaged that approximately 14 administrative staff will remain with the Department to deal with this work.
I congratulate the Minister on his appointment to the big seat in the Department of Energy. I wish him well in his work and I am glad to see he will be in the Department to supervise the transition to Coillte Teoranta.
The people involved in private planting are uneasy about the role of Coillte Teoranta officers in the future. Could the Minister give an assurance that there will not be a competitive edge between Coillte Teoranta and private planters when it comes to the delivery of grants?
The Deputy will recall the debate we had on Second Stage of the Forestry Bill, 1988, where we went into some detail on these matters. I decided that the best interests of the private planters would be served by retaining this area in the Department of Forestry so that the Department will have control. If problems of the kind the Deputy fears were to arise, clearly the Minister of the day could take appropriate action. To be honest, I do not see any great problems or fears in that regard on the ground. Because of the way the legislation has been designed and is operating, we have the composition that gives the greatest possible safeguards, and the fears which the Deputy has expressed are being catered for in a better way than would be the position had private planting been managed entirely by the new organisation.
Is there not a source of conflict of interest in having a competitor, Coillte Teoranta, deciding by way of inspection the eligibility of other planters for grants?
There is a practical problem. For instance, if the Deputy were to suggest that Coillte Teoranta were not to be involved in these inspections, that would mean that the old forestry service after 1 January would have to employ inspectors throughout Ireland to cater for the developments in the private planting programme. That would be a very expensive way of dealing with the problem. The Department will remain the arbiter but the actual inspection work will be carried out by the foresters who have access to local information and knowledge. Having made the recommendation, they do not make the decision. It will be made on the basis of technical advice to the Forest Service.