Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte is engaged in any target-led strategic plan of carbon offsetting as part of its broader afforestation remit; the details of this plan; in the absence of such a plan, if he will provide details of similar proposals that have been considered by Coillte or by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4918/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and strategic planning is the responsibility of the company in the first instance.

Coillte advise that it is actively pursuing opportunities to use the carbon offsetting potential of forests to support national afforestation levels and has engaged with a number of Government Departments over the last 2 years. The company also advises that the potential of such schemes depends heavily on EU rules relating to Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) for the period 2013-2020.

I have not considered any proposals in relation to a target-led strategic plan of carbon offsetting from afforestation.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide figures relating to the maturity of the current planted stock under Coillte's afforestation programmes; if he will detail the expected harvesting dates of the stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4919/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forestry estate, are the responsibility of the company.

Coillte has provided the following figures relating to the maturity of the current planted stock under the company's afforestation programmes:

Age Distribution of Growing Stock:

Age (years) (Hectares)

Up to 10 = 58,000

11 to 20 = 106,000

21 to 30 = 81,000

31 to 40 = 70,000

41 to 50 = 40,000

51 to 60 = 13,000

61 + = 10,000

Total: = 378,000 hectares

The calculation of harvesting dates is a complex matter, Coillte advises that the expected harvesting dates of the stock are outlined in the Coillte "Roundwood Supply Forecast 2011 - 2015" which is available on the company's website at www.coillte.ie.