Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

338. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the land leasing activities of Coillte over the past three years; the entities to whom land has been leased; and for what purposes. [51517/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as leasing of land, are the responsibility of the company. I understand that Coillte leases land for a wide range of end uses ranging from sheep grazing and forest recreation activities, such as scouting, to commercial propositions, such as wind farms and telecoms masts. I am advised that typically the area leased on an annual basis would be less that 200 hectares but this varies from year to year. As I have mentioned, the details of these leases are an operational matter for the company.