Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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643. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Coillte has not been in a position to supply the ESB with wooden poles for electrical cables, and the way it is justified that ESB has been importing approximately 40,000 wooden poles at the rate of €600 per pole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55463/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the products it provides, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has advised that it produced poles for ESB and telecommunication uses from the 1980's to the mid-1990's with counties Kilkenny, Waterford, Tipperary, Carlow and Wicklow being the primary producers due to the quality of Douglas Fir and Larch in those counties. Coillte advise that the main reason for exiting the market were the dwindling supplies of Douglas Fir and Larch. I understand that the company is currently re-evaluating their forest resource for suitable Douglas Fir and Larch pole material. Coillte advise that early indications are positive and contact has been made with ESB and Eircom regarding same and that it continues to work with ESB Networks and Eirgrid to supply as much as possible of their demand from native sources.