Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Gunning and Mr. Egan for attending today. At this stage many of the questions have been raised. I am very much in favour of wind farming. Where Coillte has low-lying land or commonage land attached to forestry, where the commonage is not planted could farmers be allowed to buy or lease the commonage? There is a great deal of such land in my area.

In cases where reasonably good farm land was planted approximately 40 or more years ago, if a farmer wanted to do a deal with Coillte would it be possible or does the land have to be replanted? Is it possible to take it out of forestry and if it is reasonably good land to sell it back to farmers?

I spent some time on Comhairle na Tuaithe. We were appreciative of the work Coillte did on walks but in some parts of the country walkways have fallen into disrepair. There might not be enough money to develop them or keep them in a good state of repair. In some cases trees have fallen across paths or debris has collected on them. I am aware of a few walks that have such problems and I would like to see them developed.