Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of acres of forestry the State own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40745/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The National Forest Inventory, undertaken by my Department, found that there are some 397,460 hectares of forests in public ownership, which encompasses all state owned forests. This equates to some 982,000 acres.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the market value of the forestry portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40746/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An estimate of the market value of the forestry portfolio is provided. I would emphasise that the results should be treated as indicative only and a more detailed valuation model supported by economic analysis and market research would be required to provide a more robust estimate of market value.

As differing valuation methods were used to arrive at an estimate of market value for each of the main forest categories in the table, it is neither appropriate or correct to simply add these estimates to provide an overall estimate of market value. Rather, each category should be treated as a more or less separate entity. Notwithstanding this proviso, there are strong similarities between how private forest crops planted 1981-2008 and state forests are valued.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the annual return to the State from the forestry portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40747/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated total value of forestry to the economy in 2007 was €828 m. Preliminary research suggests that if the processing sector is included, the total value to the economy could rise to as much as €1.886 billion.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of people employed either full-time or part-time in forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40748/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Employment in the forestry sector including full-time and part-time workers is estimated at 16,000 persons.