Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State back again.

I shall talk generally about the section. It confers the current responsibilities on the Minister and reinforces them. During the Second Stage debate we spoke about some of those responsibilities and the need to promote afforestation, forestry and timber production.

Let us look at some of the Minister's functions. They are to promote knowledge and awareness of forestry; to promote educational training in forestry and related matters; and to promote research on forestry and related matters. These are all very important functions which will, effectively, determine the future outcome of the forestry resource, both private and public. Are there plans to develop forestry? Is the Department looking at ways to do so? Does the Minister anticipate it will be developed down the road? Have we a vision of where we want Coillte and the forestry complement to be in 20 years time? There are 2030 objectives for afforestation cover in the country. What are the other objectives? How many schoolchildren do we want to see in forestry over the next ten years? Do we want to see an increase? Do we want to see additional walking routes developed in forests? Do we want our forestry resource to play an important and integral role in combatting obesity?

Coillte is the largest owner of land in the country and, therefore, has a key role to play. It is a pivotal semi-State organisation. I would like to hear the Minister of State's thoughts on the issue. I am not pressing him on it today. We must consider what must happen in five, ten and 15 years time and set the standard now. Apart from the standard of planting, we must look at other standards and decide how best to use the resource and ensure everybody can share in it.