Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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576. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to invest in facilities for public use; if such investment will be made in 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54060/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In relation to investment in facilities for public use, my Department provides funding for the NeighbourWood Scheme, which supports the development of attractive close-to-home woodland amenities (or ‘neighbourwoods’) for public use and enjoyment. The scheme is available to both public and private landowners, working in partnership with local communities.

With regard to facilities provided by Coillte, the company was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the development of recreational facilities on its lands, are the responsibility of the company.

The matter was, however, raised with Coillte, who advised that it received funding, during 2017, from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the development of Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail Centre and Coolaney Mountain Bike Trail Centre as well as their annual maintenance programme to maintain their forest parks. The company add that, in terms of investment in recreation, plans for the development of Avondale House and Forest Park, Co. Wicklow are progressing well. Coillte advise that the regular annual programme of works will be undertaken in 2018 to maintain and upgrade the existing trails, picnic areas, play areas and visitor facilities at all of Coillte’s recreation sites and forest parks with a review of each of Coillte’s forest parks to be carried out, in early 2018, to assess potential new facilities that could be provided and the available resources to do so.