Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the criteria governing the sale or lease of forestry land. [3736/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy's question is concerned with sale or lease of land owned by Coillte.

Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters such as the sale and lease of land are the responsibility of the company.

The criteria governing the sale or lease of forestry land by Coillte is a matter for the company itself. However a procedure for informing the Minister of Coillte's annual programme of sales under section 14 of the Forestry Act 1988 is in place and, while no particular criteria governing the sale or lease of land are established, the annual programme must be agreed by the Minister.