Written answers

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Sector

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding Coillte (details supplied); the action being taken to stop the sale of forestry areas since the publication of Peter Bacon’s report and the other available commentary and analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15481/13]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon 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.

NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department are currently considering the report by Peter Bacon and Associates, commissioned by IMPACT, containing an “Assessment of the Consequences of the proposed Sale of Coillte’s Timber Harvesting Rights – 10 January 2013”. The report by EPS Consulting for the Irish Timber Council, “The impacts on the sawmill sector arising from the proposed sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights ”, is also being considered as part of the 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 outcome of the overall analysis, which is ongoing, will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion with no decision to be taken on Coillte until it is discussed at Cabinet.

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