John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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1382. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role of Coillte in the visitors' centre proposed by south Dublin county council in the Dublin mountains at the Hell Fire Club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38591/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.

The matter was, however, raised with Coillte who advise that the company is facilitating a proposal by South Dublin County Council to develop the Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre, a new “gateway” to the Dublin Mountains located at the combined Massy’s Wood and Montpelier Hill incorporating the Hell Fire Club site. Coillte advise that these lands are owned by Coillte.

Coillte added that the visitor centre will comprise a dedicated interpretative exhibition and educational facility as well as a café and shop, a rambler’s lounge and toilets and that there will be enhanced access to the site with increased car parking and public transport, road improvements and the construction of a new footpath to the site. The company also advise that the proposal will deliver improved quality and quantity of walks and trails for people of all ages and abilities incorporating a tree-top walkway/bridge from Montpelier Hill into Massy’s Wood, and provides for the enhancement of the mountain landscape around the visitor centre by replacing large areas of commercial coniferous forest on the eastern slopes of Montpelier Hill with broad-leaved woodland and predominantly indigenous native species.