Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 December 2012

Thursday, 20 December 2012

Questions (271)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

271. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any restrictions on Coillte in relation to the sale of land in view of the proposed sale by Coillte of 11,000ha of land near Ballybofey, County Donegal; if he was consulted about this sale; if he intends putting any restrictions in place in relation to the sale by Coillte of parcels of land over 50ha, without his permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57746/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

I understand that the area involved in the proposed sale, to which the Deputy refers, is actually 448.8 hectares which equates to some 1,109 acres, not ‘11,000ha’ as appears in text of question.

The current policy in regard to the sale of land by Coillte is as provided in the Forestry Act 1988 and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, with which Coillte, as a state body, must comply.

Day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale and acquisition of land which take place regularly, are the responsibility of the company. As the transaction to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter at the discretion of the company, I was not consulted specifically about this proposed sale.