Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
978. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding plans and proposals to merge Bord na Móna and Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37822/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has established the NewERA shareholder executive as a business unit within the NTMA. Its functions include the corporate governance from a shareholder perspective of a number of commercial State companies including Bord na Móna and Coillte.
The Government is also progressing a programme of State asset disposals, including consideration of the sale of certain Coillte assets (excluding the sale of land), which is likely to include sale of harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests. Work is currently underway, with advice from NewERA, on considering how to structure such a sale transaction, which includes consideration of the implications of such a potential sale for the future role and structure of Coillte.
My Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is currently finalising a Bioenergy Strategy, which will be published in the coming months. This will set out in detail the actions required to optimise the potential of Ireland’s bioenergy resources and how these resources can contribute to Ireland’s renewable energy targets for 2020.
The Bioenergy Strategy will have implications for clients of these businesses of both Coillte and Bord na Móna. Further development of plans for a merger between Coillte and Bord na Mona will have regard to the outcome of these processes.
