Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm, with respect to the proposed sale of harvesting rights at Coillte forests, the detailed measures that will be proposed to ensure that public roads and service roads are maintained; if there will be an additional cost to the State in respect of same; if a levy is being considered for the private operators of logging vehicles to ensure road maintenance is kept up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13960/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Further to the Government’s decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, the National Treasury Management Agency, via its NewERA Unit, has been actively engaged with Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of a potential transaction.

Substantial work has been undertaken to date on the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights.

In relation to the maintenance of public and service roads, a reference to the investment currently made by Coillte in upgrading forest roads was noted in the report, “Assessment of the Consequences of the proposed Sale of Coillte’s Timber Harvesting Rights – 10 January 2013 ” by Peter Bacon and Associates, commissioned by IMPACT. A copy of the report was received by NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department at the end of January 2013. The report and its findings are currently being analysed as part of the ongoing consideration process. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion; no decision has been taken as yet.

It should, however, be noted that the consideration of issues in relation to the sourcing of funding for maintenance of local roads is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.