Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if plans to merge Coillte and Bord na Móna as a new energy company will still proceed in the view of the recommendations of the review group on State assets and liabilities. [9446/11]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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In the context of the NewERA Plan the Government has committed to an ambitious strategy of accelerating the development of Ireland's forestry and bioenergy resources.

Key to the realisation of this strategy as outlined in the Programme for Government is the plan to create a new State company to be called BioEnergy Ireland. This envisages the merger of Bord na Móna and Coillte.

I will be working with Minister Rabbitte as well as with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and other relevant Ministers to deliver this Government objective so that Bio-Energy Ireland will become a global leader in the commercialisation of next generation bioenergy technologies.

As regards the recently published Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities I would refer the Deputy to the commitment in the Programme for Government to invest over time up to €2 billion in the sale of non-strategic state assets to finance the New Era investment programme and also to the statement issued by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the publication of the Report which indicated that the Government would now study the findings of the Report and its extensive recommendations in detail.