Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the reasons Coillte stopped doing afforestation in 2004 was because until that point in time, it was able to avail of forestry premiums in the same way anyone else could. After 2004, as a result of a state aid decision, it was no longer able to do that. That then meant that the financials for the company to be able to do afforestation itself did not stack up in the way it had before. Also at that particular time in 2004, as there was significant afforestation happening by farmers and privately, there was not the same need for Coillte to be involved at that time. As the Deputy is aware, in recent times afforestation has been very low and the hectarage going under it has been very low, so we need to step that up. Coillte is looking to get back into that space. In order to do that-----