Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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189. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte can be compensated to plant small areas of forestry on its lands by farmers and landowners that require their lands after felling trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27050/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The replanting obligation, which is a condition of a felling licence, is the responsibility of the forest owner and any proposed alternative site must form part of the felling licence application. The proposed alternative site must also receive approval for afforestation before any felling licence issues. Furthermore, in line with my Department’s Felling and Reforestation Policy, conversion of forest land to agriculture is only considered in limited instances, having regard to the scale and character of the area proposed for deforestation. There are no plans to change this policy.

Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as land transactions with third parties, are the responsibility of the company.