Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the envisaged annual afforestation programme to be overseen by the new energy company formed through the merger of Coillte and Bord na Móna and projected to deliver an annual planting of 14,700 hectares will utilise existing Coillte lands. [7506/11]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food has statutory responsibility for the national afforestation programme, including annual targets, and for Coillte Teoranta. I will work with him and with the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, in the context of the NewERA plan to deliver on the Government's ambitious strategy of accelerating the development of Ireland's forestry and bioenergy resources as well as the merger of Bord na Móna and Coillte. The systematic development of Ireland's abundant bioenergy resources will contribute to national security of energy supply and our renewable energy targets. Critically, it will support rural development by providing new markets and employment development opportunities for the agriculture, farming and forestry sectors.