Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
96. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine as the main shareholder of Coillte Ireland, if he will indicate a timeline for publication of the geographical survey carried out on Coillte lands in 1989. [47689/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the first instance, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is actually the main shareholder in Coillte Teoranta. However, while I hold a lesser number of shares, there are a number of powers assigned to me under the Forestry Act 1988 under which Coillte Teoranta was established.
Coillte Teoranta, which was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988, came into operation on 1 January 1989 at which time certain State lands totalling 396,000 hectares were vested in the Company in accordance with the Act. Coillte’s Annual Report and Accounts 1989, which were published following it’s AGM for that year, includes a map of Ireland showing the distribution of forests and also includes a summary by region. There is no record of a geological survey carried out by Coillte at this time.
Coillte has acquired land since its establishment and now manages an estate of some 442,000 hectares. For this reason, if the Deputy is seeking to ascertain the current geographical spread or location of Coillte forests, I understand that such information is published in the Company’s District Strategic Plans, which are accessible on the Company’s website, while a breakdown by County may be made available on request to the company itself. This would give the Deputy the current situation and is already in the public domain.
