Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding mineral rights and the sale of Coillte assets via the new era project; if the mineral rights in the grounds beneath the forests form part of the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57972/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, Coillte Board and management have been actively engaged with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion.

I understand that if there are minerals on the Coillte estate, the rights to them are reserved to the State. I want to reiterate that it is a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests that is currently being considered for sale.