Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for introducing Statutory Instrument No. 151 of 2009; if there was consultation with users and traditional stakeholders of Coillte lands before introducing these regulations; if these regulations apply to lands managed by Coillte in partnership with private landowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46761/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I made the Forestry Act 1988 (Section 37) (Coillte Teoranta) Bye-Laws 2009 [Statutory Instrument No. 151 of 2009] on foot of a request from Coillte under Section 37 of the Forestry Act 1988. Coillte requested the making of the bye-laws to assist the company in controlling unauthorized activities on Coillte property, examples of which included indiscriminate illegal dumping of domestic and commercial waste, damage to security barriers and property and inappropriate operation of All Terrain Vehicles such as quad bikes and motorbike scrambling.

The company operates an Open Forest Policy, whereby the general public are permitted and welcome to use forest lands for non-commercial, informal and recreational purposes. In 2004 Coillte undertook a major review of its recreation policy in consultation with stakeholders, including NGOs, Local Authorities, state agencies, etc.; 170 of whom responded to an invitation to contribute to the review. The Bye-Laws apply to those Coillte lands in respect of which a Notice of Application of Bye-Laws has been posted in a visible location where the public might reasonably gain entrance to those lands (Bye-Law 3); "Coillte lands" are defined in these Bye-Laws as meaning lands owned, managed or used by Coillte (Bye-Law 2).