Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1138. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make funding available through Coillte for required repair and maintenance of paths at an amenity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19385/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the amenity to which the Deputy refers, namely Castlemorris Woods Walk, Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny, is part of the Coillte forest estate. Coillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their lands, are the responsibility of the company.

The matter was, however, raised with Coillte who confirmed that Castlemorris Wood is one of the company’s properties and advised that Coillte receives recreation funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

I understand that the Castlemorris property is a mixed use wood combining recreation, biodiversity and commercial objectives. Coillte is aware that this area is used a lot by recreational walkers and, over the last number of years, has spent some money on erecting signage for recreational users and on maintaining the walking tracks and trails in this area. Coillte adds that, as part of its 2017 plans, it has allocated some money to Castlemorris woods to repair walking trails and I understand that this work will be carried out in the next few months.

Coillte also advised that there was a recent harvesting operation at Castlemorris and that, in line with the company’s normal forestry operations, the roads are currently being repaired post-harvesting.