Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Questions (424)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

424. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the product known as pulp within the forestry industry will be made available at a commercial rate to the saw millers of the country and no longer be exclusively directed to the Coillte board plants; his views on whether there would be a better return to the State if this product was transacted on an open and transparent basis, whereby all processors of our forestry, including Coillte, would have to bid for same rather than the current situation whereby Coillte directs pulp to its board plants without any cost to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44174/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I understand that pulp wood is of a size that is not suited for conversion in sawmills and that the main uses of pulp wood in Ireland are in panel-board manufacture and as wood fuel.

Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the use and/or marketing of pulp wood from its forest estate, are the responsibility of the company. I understand that Coillte decides on a commercial basis the levels of pulp wood from its own forests which it sells on the open market and what proportion is used in its two board mills. I also understand that the company also sells a proportion of its pulp wood on the open market on a competitive basis. Coillte sells its larger, sawlog sized material, through auctions which are held on a fortnightly basis and where sawmills bid for roundwood lots. Sales of privately-owned pulp wood are transacted between the owners and a range of buyers, including Coillte.