Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Why did the State agree to sell 22 acres of Coillte land at Ballymartle Forest in Riverstick, County Cork to private interests? Does the Taoiseach accept that the State needs to rapidly expand its forest lands, rather than selling them off to the private sector? I congratulate the local campaigners whose highlighting of this issue has persuaded Coillte to pause the sale to allow for more public consultation, but is the sale already, effectively, a done deal? After all, Coillte has erected a "sale agreed" sign. Is this consultation for real or is it a sham? Will the Taoiseach voice his support for the local people who are campaigning to keep this land in public ownership?

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