Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
340. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if and when he plans to conduct a review of the legislation which established Coillte, notably the Forestry Act 1988. [36903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte Cuideachta Ghníomhnaíochta Ainmnithe is a commercial state body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, established under the Forestry Act 1988. The Act provides inter alia that a principal object of the company is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and in accordance with efficient silvicultural practices.
The company is self-financing and is not the recipient of Exchequer funding, and indeed has a responsibility to return a profit and make dividend payments to the state in addition to delivering on the State's forestry priorities. That is not to say that the company focuses solely on commercial activities. For instance 20% of Coillte forests are managed for the protection of biodiversity and habitats.
In order to meet this remit Coillte currently operates across various business strands including forestry, land management, panel products and renewable energy businesses. The company manages an estate of some 440,000 hectares of which just under 400,000 hectares is forested.
As the Deputy may be aware, Coillte launched its new forestry strategic vision on 21st April last, following engagement with a number of stakeholders including my Department. There is close alignment between Coillte's strategic vision and the proposed new national forestry strategy and Forestry Programme, currently under development within my Department and this has been facilitated by Coillte's participation in Working Group 2 of Project Woodland. Project Woodland is an initiative of Minister Hackett to among other things encourage woodland creation in Ireland.
I am satisfied that Coillte is adapting its approach and practices to meet the emerging climate and biodiversity challenges, while fulfilling its remit as a commercial entity, and that this approach will deliver on the multiple benefits that their forests have to offer for people, the economy and the environment.
