Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
542 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the Irish Forestry Unit Trust which has been buying up trees for many years on behalf of investors who have bought up to €100,000 worth of trees, if he will state who these investors are and the amount of taxpayer’ money they have received in grants to date. [21961/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Company named is a private company and my Department does not have details of its individual investors. I can confirm that the Company named has received payments under the forestry schemes operated by my Department. However, for reasons of confidentiality, it is not the Department's policy to disclose such details to third parties.
543 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that 1.2 million trees were assigned to each household here as part of the Year 2000 People’s Millennium Forests Project Household Tree Scheme, over 1.2 million native oak, ash, birch, alder and scot’s pine trees, many of which now are semi-mature, ownership certificates were issued with individual plot numbers to every household, the way he plans to sell off State forests which include the 1.2 million trees belonging to those households, in view of the fact that each household holds an ownership certificate and a cover letter signed by the then Minister of the Environment; and what will happen to their trees in the event of a sale. [21962/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. The mission of the People's Millennium Forests Project was to ensure that all future generations can enjoy the benefits of Ireland's native forests. There were 16 sites involved in this project, 14 of which are in the Republic of Ireland and two in Northern Ireland. One element of the Project was the "Household Tree Scheme" whereby each household in Ireland had a native tree planted at one of the 13 sites of the 14 sites in the Republic of Ireland, with the 14th site exclusively for the protection of a unique native yew wood in Killarney.
While a certificate was issued to each household in relation to the "Household Tree Scheme", it did not confer legal ownership of the tree to that household. The context in which the trees were planted is that they would be part of a woodland community that would remain in place in perpetuity. People were invited to participate in the People's Millennium Forests Project by visiting the forests and to enjoy the ever-changing natural environment of native woodland with its associated flora and wildlife.
I am aware that 12 of the 16 sites involved in the Peoples Millennium Forest Project form part of the Coillte forest estate. As announced by the Government in February, consideration will be given to the possible sale of some assets of Coillte excluding the sale of land. A valuation of Coillte assets is currently being undertaken by the NTMA (NewERA unit) in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. No decision on the possible sale of Coillte assets will be taken until the valuation process is completed. The protection of the People's Millennium Forests is one of the issues to be considered in the decision-making process in relation to the possible sale of Coillte assets.
