Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
718. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates on which his Department was in communication with Coillte regarding the recently announced strategy and intention to afforest 100,000 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26097/22]
View answerCoillte advised the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of its proposed approach during the development of their new forestry strategic vision, which was launched on 21st April. Together with my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsbility for the sector, I attended a presentation by Coillte on its proposed stategic vision on 13th January last. Coillte had previously presented to Minister Hackett on 22nd November 2021.
Coillte is represented on the Forestry Policy Group and in Working Group 2 of Project Woodland, which is providing input into the development of the new national forestry strategy. Coillte's participation in the Working Group has facilitated close alignment between the proposed new national forestry strategy and their own strategic vision.
I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the coming years and Coillte will have a significant role to play in this regard. My Department continues to work with Coillte in exploring all available options to facilitate greater involvement by Coillte in afforestation.
I look forward to the detailed consultation that Coillte will undertake with stakeholders on their Strategic Vision and I welcome the stated intention in that vision to optimise their contribution to Ireland’s climate and biodiversity targets.
