Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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565. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on proposed changes to the ownership of Coillte. [25426/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Coillte was established as a private company in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988, which provided for the issue of shares to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is therefore a State owned company. I wish to reiterate that it is the sale of the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests that is under consideration and not the sale of the land or the company. The overall analysis on the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights has been finalised, the outcome of which is currently being considered by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself. It will be brought to Government in due course for consideration.