Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Question 664: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of hardwood timber availability in mills nationwide; if Coillte intend to hold sales or auctions of timber this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20581/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that there is very strong demand for hardwood timber for the firewood trade. My Department is addressing supply through grant-aid to forest owners under the Tending and Thinning of Broadleaves scheme. The scheme is targeted at improving the quality of broadleaf of hardwood plantations, and in doing so releases fuelwood onto the market. The scheme will also result, in time, in increased availability of larger sized hardwoods suitable for use in sawmilling and other applications.

Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as sale of timber, are the responsibility of the company. I understand, however, that, while Coillte holds auctions of softwood timber on a regular basis, it sells only very small volumes of hardwoods on local sale. I also understand that hardwoods are generally sourced from privately owned old woodland estates.