Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concerns regarding the sale of Coillte forests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/13]

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, 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. The replanting obligation, the future management of the estate, the maintenance of existing amenities and public access to recreational land are all being considered in the current analysis. The Government is fully conscious of the concerns that have been raised by the general public, recreational groups, the timber processing sector, trade unions and members of the Oireachtas in relation to the Coillte sale proposal. The Government will proceed with caution in relation to this matter and no final decision has been taken, as yet.