Ms Geraldine Corcoran:

Absolutely. Coillte simply will not communicate. It is just in denial. It makes all the decisions. I do not know why, but there is no urgency to meet partners or to address our concerns. Representatives will not meet us. We are sent pre-ticked boxes for us to sign for the grant. I have to get the grant for Coillte to spend it on my plantation, then it does what it likes. I am completely locked out. It is a partner. I have documents with me setting out how Coillte was supposed to manage it to the best of its ability.

It has not agreed to anything but has blocked us out completely. We trusted it because it is a semi-State body. If we gave this to somebody who lived nearby, we would be very conscious and, as was said, we would be looking over our shoulder and looking after things but Coillte staff are the professionals. They are the ones that have the expertise on how to plant and look after trees. I supplied the land and Coillte was to look after my trees. I did nothing wrong. I signed in respect of the land but I did not say Coillte could take over and own my land. The organisation is acting as if I sold it the land and is locking me out. It makes all the decisions. Coillte staff do not meet me or any of our partners.