Mr. Donal Magner:

I conducted my own survey during a four-year period when I was writing Stopping by Woods: A Guide to the Heritage and Recreational Forests of Ireland. Coillte has 150 official forests, which are regarded as recreational amenities, in which signage and roads are maintained to ensure the public has free access. When I went around the country I found that Coillte had entered relationships with Tidy Towns committees, local community groups and by the time I had finished, I had counted 220 forests, which are all written up in my book. I would imagine that if I explored it further, there are between 250 to 260 forests that are accessible. Even if one were to put 300 hectares to 400 hectares, at a very minimum Coillte has 100,000 hectares that are widely used. I am not including people who live close to a forest and use it of an evening as a private amenity. In some forests I would meet a couple of people over a 24-hour period but others are used by a significant number of people.

The point we are making, without being able possibly to put a figure on it, is that if one were to eliminate a company such as Coillte, but decide to hold back 100,000 to 150,000 hectares, some 30% of the estate, some group will have to manage it. A body such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service could undertake that work but it would be an additional cost to the Exchequer as it will generate very low income as it will be managed solely as an amenity. The State makes demands on a company such as Coillte to provide open access and other non-wood benefits. That is paid for by Coillte out of its revenue generated by commercial saw milling. If one were to give that commercial entity to some other investor, one must ask the local authorities, the National Parks and Wildlife Service or some other non-commercial venture to do that work, it will eventually cost the State money if it is managed properly.