Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
1051. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which Coillte has fully complied with all of its own consultancy processes and procedures in respect of development of Coillte land at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13519/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management and development of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
The company has, however, provided details of its involvement in the development, to which the Deputy refers, at Hellfire Club/Massey's Wood in South Dublin County Council. Coillte advises that it has entered into an agreement with South Dublin County Council to allow the Council to develop proposals for a gateway visitor facility in the Dublin Mountains located at the Hellfire forest property. The company advises that this facility is intended to introduce the Dublin Mountains to a range of new visitors and improve facilities for visitors seeking to access the forest and other properties in the Dublin Mountains area. The company also advises that the proposal is to develop a series of improved walking and hiking trails in Hellfire and Massey’s Wood forest properties to link into the Dublin Mountains Way (one of the National Waymarked Ways) and provide for greater accessibility to the forests catering for the abilities of a wider range of visitors, and will include a visitor building with a café, interactive information for visitors about the natural and built heritage of the area, and toilets and rest areas. I am also advised that a tree-top connection will link Hellfire and Massey’s Wood – similar to the canopy walk trail in Lough Key Forest Park. I understand that improved car-parking and traffic management facilities are also proposed to deal with significant increased use of the forest properties in the Dublin Mountains area.
As regards consultation, Coillte advise that the proposal (if advanced to planning stage), will follow all statutory consultation procedures under the Planning and Development Acts. Coillte add that they have already undertaken early local engagement with local residents and adjoining landowners on a one-to-one basis and with two group presentations to adjoining landowners, the next one of which is scheduled for tomorrow (March 22nd). Coillte advise that it has a stated consultation policy and procedures published on http://www.coillte.ie/about-us/social-responsibility/consultation/, that they are following stated processes and that this process of engagement and consultation is ongoing. Coillte concluded by advising that, where suggestions and issues of concern have been raised by stakeholders, Coillte have endeavoured to make amendments to proposals to deal with such concerns, citing the example here of the scale of the proposed visitor building, which was flagged as a concern by adjoining landowners. Coillte advise that the scale has been reduced to address the concerns raised locally.
