Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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324. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the total costs of the trade mission to Nigeria and Senegal in September 2023, including the costs of the research and materials produced as part of the mission.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18234/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows the total costs associated with the Ministerial Trade Mission to Nigeria and Senegal in September 2023. The costs shown below are in respect of travel by the previous Minister and six officials from my Department.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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325. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he signed off on the dismantling of Coillte Nature; if so, the consideration he took into account before doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17630/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Coillte was set up as a commercial State body under the Forestry Act, 1988, and is therefore independent from my Department in relation to operational matters, as specified in the Act.

As one of the shareholders of Coillte, I have responsibility for the oversight of the Company in accordance with the Act and I also have expectations in relation to Coillte’s engagement in climate action, biodiversity, and nature rehabilitation, which complements the company’s contributions to the forest and wood products industry. These expectations are set out in the Shareholder Letters of Expectations, which are published on my Department’s website.

Coillte’s decision to absorb the work of Coillte Nature into Coillte’s main Forest Division is an organisational matter which did not require consent from the shareholders.

Coillte informed my Department of this reorganisation decision at a meeting in February this year. It explained that the need for a separate Nature unit has been superseded by the overall Coillte strategic vision for the forest estate, announced in 2022. This seeks to deliver multiple benefits from Ireland’s state forests, brings more focus to climate action, and sets ambitious new targets on biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood products industry. Coillte also explained that this reorganisation will enable a more integrated approach to all nature and biodiversity projects going forward.

Coillte’s decision to absorb the work of Coillte Nature into its main Forest Division will not interrupt any of the Coillte Nature projects that have been ongoing, and its reorganisation will not impact negatively on the objectives set out in the Coillte Strategic Vision and Strategy for its forest estate.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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326. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the widespread damage caused by falling trees in recent storms affecting ESB transmission lines, telecommunication lines and other critical infrastructure, if measures will be implemented across Departments to ensure that diseased trees are felled and financial support provided to landowners and households in view of the substantial costs involved in felling trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18348/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises that the recent storms Darragh and Éowyn, have caused varying degrees of damage around the country, including significant damage to trees and that this presents challenges to all stakeholders in forestry.

My Department officials are in regular contact with the ESB, particularly in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. On 5th February 2025, a decision was made by Government to request ESB Networks to develop a Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan, which was presented at Cabinet this week. A key component of this plan is the the requirement to safeguard the electrical network that passes through forests. In this regard ESB have engaged with my Department, Coillte, Department of Environment Climate and Communications and I understand they are also engaging with the Irish Farmers Association.

I understand that amongst other items, a commitment to review forestry setbacks and corridors in relation to the safeguarding of the electrical network will form part of the plan. I understand, any new agreement on corridor widths will inform my Department in updating their forestry related requirements.