Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide assurances that the open access policy currently in operation on the Coillte Estates will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8603/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 engaged with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. 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. The open access policy to which the Deputy refers is one of the issues so identified which requires detailed consideration.

I am aware that Coillte, as part of its management of some 442,000 hectares of the national forest estate, plays a significant role in the provision of forest recreational activities continuing a long tradition of open access to state owned forests. It is the Government’s intention that appropriate provisions would be included in any sale of Coillte harvesting rights to allow for the maintenance of the company’s current open forest policy. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion and no decision has been taken as yet.