Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in regard to the consultation process regarding the Forestry Review and the basis on which the decision to exclude the Forestry Act 1988 from this review was made, she will provide the Houses of the Oireachtas with the record by which this decision was made and include all correspondence with the Department, which is the main shareholder on behalf of the public in this semi-State body, and all correspondence with Coillte regarding the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26687/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The review of forestry legislation under way at present is concentrating on the operational provisions of the various Acts. Because of this, the main focus is on the 1946 Act but the 1988 Act is not excluded, insofar as it deals with operational matters such as, for example, the level of penalties.

The role of Coillte is ultimately a matter for Government to decide and any changes to the legislation establishing Coillte could only be considered following a decision to review or change that role. The role of Coillte is not being considered in this review.

The Terms of Reference of the current review have been published and are currently posted on my Department's website. This website is updated on a monthly basis to report progress in the review. The scope of the current review was set by my Department and there was no correspondence with Coillte on the specific matter raised in the question.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the location, area, parties involved, reasons and terms of any lands exchanged by Coillte in the past three years under Section 39 of the Forestry Act 1988; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26688/06]

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 and day to day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. The exchange of land is a matter of an operational nature for Coillte.

I am advised, however, that there were three land exchanges by the company since the commencement of 2003. I would suggest that the Deputy contact the company directly for the breakdown sought.