asked the Minister for Energy the total cost of the reception to launch Coillte Teoranta on 21 December 1988.
300.
Written Answers. - Coillte Teoranta Activities.
297.
asked the Minister for Energy if his attention has been drawn to the fact that serious flooding has occurred in a small area which includes private dwellings in County Cork, adjacent to forestry lands, due to the clearing and preparation of the ground by forestry employees for the replanting of trees; if his attention has further been drawn to the undue hardship which this flooding has imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the proposals there are to correct this problem.
I wish to take Questions Nos. 297 and 300 together.
These questions refer to operational matters associated with the functions which were transferred to Coillte Teoranta on 1 January 1989. The costs associated with the launch of Coillte Teoranta are being borne by the company.
The Forestry Act 1988 established Coillte Teoranta to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis. In doing so it transferred to the company functions which had previously been exercised by me. In so far as the work of the company is concerned I am now responsible to the Dáil only for policy decisions of a general kind relating to forestry but not for issues arising out of the day to day operations of the company.
For the information of the House, and for future reference, I wish to confirm that the areas for which I have retained direct responsibility are general forestry policy including EC matters; the promotion and grant-aiding of private forestry and the licensing of tree felling.