Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1730. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence regarding access rights (details supplied); if he will clarify any relevant matters concerning the property in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44826/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The forest in question was managed by Coillte as part of a leasehold agreement for many years and Coillte allowed for the public to have access under the company’s open forest policy.

I have made enquiries with Coillte and the company has informed me that, in December 2021, it relinquished its leasehold and as a result, the management of the forests moved back to the owners of the estate. The relevant Local Authority and other key stakeholders, including local public representatives, were made aware of this matter in November 2021.

It is important to keep in mind that there is no general right to roam in this State, and it is the owner, or occupier, of privately owned lands who has the right to consent to who may enter. This is different to publicly owned lands where there are extensive parts of the country to which the public effectively has access and can roam. This is also the case for many of the forests that form part of the Coillte estate.

Coillte has informed me that it is committed to working with the local community in the area concerned to further develop recreational access to Coillte-owned lands in the surrounding vicinity in the future.