Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied with all the procedures in relation to the selling of Coillte land to a company (details supplied); the steps which were taken in these negotiations; if Coillte obeyed the protocol and guidelines; if this company consulted with local persons; if it reinvested some of this money on the land which was sold which is supposed to be done by Coillte when local land is sold in a local area; the area in which the money was invested; the amount of money which was reinvested in that local area; the amount the land was sold to the company for and the price; if the sale was put out for public tender; if so, the number of tenders which were received; the person who was the highest tender; the amount of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27212/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988. Day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale of land and issues surrounding the sale of land, are the responsibility of the company. Under section 14 of the Forestry Act 1988 and the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, Coillte has certain responsibilities and duties when selling land. I am satisfied that all such obligations and duties were properly discharged by Coillte in this instance. Notwithstanding the fact that Coillte is a private commercial company, I have made some inquiries on foot of the Deputy's queries. I understand that Coillte did not consult the local community prior to the sale of the land in question. A requirement for consultation is now part of Coillte's procedures, but that was not the case when this sale was negotiated. The receipts from the sale were used in the management and development of the company's overall activities. There was no specific reinvestment of the receipts in the local area. The sale of the 400 acres in question, which realised €2.75 million, was negotiated by private contract and was not the subject of a tendering process.