Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010
612 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all targets for the millennium forests planted in 1999 were met; if the 16 forests planted still remain intact; the number of household certificates that were distributed by Coillte; the follow-up work that has been carried out in relation to the millennium forests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6170/10]
View answerThe People's Millennium Forests Project was a flagship Millennium project sponsored by the National Millennium Committee and AIB and managed by Coillte in association with Woodlands of Ireland. Coillte, the project managers, advise that all of the targets for the millennium forests were met. In relation to the 16 sites included in the project, 14 were in the Republic of Ireland and two were in Northern Ireland. Of the fourteen sites in the Republic, a combination of native woodland restoration work and new planting was carried out at thirteen sites while restoration work only was carried out at one site. An audit of the sites during Autumn 2007 indicated that sites were well managed and forests planted in 2000 are progressing well. Coillte advises that certificates were distributed to 1.2 million households.
