Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)

On the sale of State assets, I put it to the Minister that he might consider the possibility I will outline instead of selling the land or forestry of Coillte outright. His Department, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, could examine the possibility of long-term leases for wind farm developers. The State would have none of the risk. Much of the land owned by Coillte is in areas where we have wind speeds that are suitable for wind farms. We could still maintain some of the asset that is the forestry. It would allow the State to access some of the value of the lands without risk.

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