Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the projected felling in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains over the next five years; and the allowances made within felling plans for areas of high recreational and amenity usage. [4260/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The following are the projected clearfelling figures in hectares for the area in question for the period 2007-2011 inclusive:

Coillte has a general policy of allowing open access to its forests and the recreational opportunities that result are among the many non-timber benefits that Irish forests offer. These forests have a natural cycle which incorporates planting, thinning, felling and replanting and throughout this process public access is, as far as possible, maintained.

In the consultation process undertaken in the formulation of felling plans high importance is attributed to the recreational and amenity value of the forest. Before the licensing of any felling site the relevant local authority, who have a particular role where amenity is concerned, is consulted in relation to the proposed felling and replanting proposals for the site. If deemed necessary, on environmental grounds, further consultations may also be undertaken with other relevant bodies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Fisheries Boards.

The conditions of all felling licences require that the felling and replanting proposals must be carried out in accordance with the Forest Service Code of Best Practice and must also comply with the Forest Service Code of Best Forest Practice and must comply with the Forest Service guidelines relating to Landscape, Forest Harvesting and the Environment and the Irish National Forest Standard.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has plans to amend the remit of Coillte to include the provision and management of recreational woodland areas; and if not, the measures she will take for the regulation of same. [4261/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not currently have plans to amend the remit of Coillte as set out in its Memorandum of Association in relation to the provision and management of recreational woodland areas. Coillte has a role in the provision of recreational facilities and has produced a revised and updated policy on recreation, 'Recreation Policy-Healthy Forests, Healthy Nation', which I launched in October 2005.