Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The timeline is tight. It is our objective to have the evaluation completed by the end of the year. Preliminary work has been undertaken by NewERA and I have read its preliminary report on the feasibility of merging the State companies, Coillte and Bord na Móna. Much more work remains to be done but it is hoped, notwithstanding the complexity of the issue, to complete the work by the end of this year. If the proposed merger makes sense, a formal decision will be made to merge the two companies.