Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
526. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions he has held with Coillte in relation to the prevention of the spread of chalara fraxinea, the fungus that causes ash dieback; if additional resources have been given to Coillte in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51136/12]
View answerThe Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, Shane McEntee, has had a number of meetings with Coillte and the other representatives of the forest industry in relation to this disease. While this Department has overall responsibility for forestry including the protection of the forest estate from harmful insects and diseases, Coillte as a commercial semi-state company has a role to play within its own estate in terms of preventing and managing disease outbreaks. The company has indicated its willingness to assist in preventing the spread of this disease and has offered to increase its ash output to provide alternative sources of material to the hurley making industry.
