'No plans to transfer the national forest estate to NPWS'
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has said that he has 'no plans' to transfer Coillte's forestry holdings to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
In a parliamentary question this week (June 2025) People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, Richard Boyd Barrett asked Minister Heydon if he would consider the move 'to ensure that Ireland's forestry will be preserved for non-commercial use and biodiversity will be conserved'.
Minister Heydon highlighted that Coillte was established as a commercial state company with private limited status under the Forestry Act 1988, to become custodian and manager of the national forest estate.
The minister explained that a principal object of the company, set out in the Forestry Act, is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis, and in accordance with efficient silvicultural practices.
He said: 'The focus at the time when the company was established was to put the estate in the charge of a company that would realise its potential and support wood production.
'Coillte is currently managing 440,000 hectares of land, 7% of the total area of the Republic of Ireland.
'Coillte's role has evolved over time to reflect the company's important role in addressing the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the forestry sector and our rural economy,' Minister Heydon added.
Minister Martin Heydon
According to Minister Heydon, one-fifth of Coillte's forestry estate, or 90,000ha, is currently managed primarily for biodiversity.
'The current legislation governing the mandate of Coillte, together with government policy, the existing shareholder letter of expectations, existing national and EU legislation, along with Coillte's own strategic vision, ensures that climate action and the protection and enhancement of nature and biodiversity are integral to the company's role and operations,' the minister said.
He also claims that Coillte has a long term 'ambition' to manage 30% of its estate primarily for nature and biodiversity.
As a result, Minister Heydon said that he believes that Coillte's role as custodian and manager of the national forest estate should remain unchanged.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
AgNav launches tillage enterprise at Oak Park open day
AgNav has now added tillage enterprises to its online digital platform. The new tillage capabilities on the platform were launched by minister for agriculture Martin Heydon at the Crops and Technology Open Day in Teagasc Oak Park on June 25. AgNav supports farmers in identifying mitigation strategies for their farms to deliver on climate action. With the addition of tillage it will allow tillage farmers to calculate the carbon footprint of their crops, marking a significant advancement in sustainability tools for Irish tillage farmers. AgNav was originally developed as a collaboration between Teagasc, Bord Bia and ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation) as a platform designed to help farmers measure and manage the environmental impact of their operations. With the addition of tillage, this will enable farmers to calculate the carbon footprint of their crops using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model specifically tailored for Ireland. Teagasc collaborated with Tirlán to develop the LCA model specifically for an Irish tillage farming system. Teagasc's tillage LCA model follows global standards, evaluating the carbon footprint of native grains, from cradle to farm-gate. Hence, the scope of the model extends from the acquisition of raw materials, through to the harvesting of crops. It also utilises national information on agricultural emissions and carbon capture and retention (sequestration) to determine carbon footprint as CO2 emissions per tonne of grain produced. Speaking at the open day, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, said: The tillage sector has a major role to play in achieving Ireland's climate targets. I welcome this new development in AgNav, which allows farmers to understand their emissions profile and to identify ways of making further sustainability improvements at farm level. John Spink, Head of the Crops, Environment and Land use Programme in Teagasc, said: 'This is an important development for growers and for the tillage sector. Farmers will be able to sign up and get a demonstration of how to use the system. I would encourage all growers to register and use AgNav so that we can get a good view of the carbon footprint of Irish tillage crops.' Dr Siobhán Jordan, Head of Teagasc Technology Transfer office, said: 'Teagasc, and its partners ICBF and Bord Bia, are committed to the ongoing development of the AgNav tool, and plans are in place to include other farming enterprises in the years ahead. (Left to right) John Spink, Teagasc; Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon; Dr Jack Kennedy, editor of the Irish Farmers Journal and Liam Woulfe, Teagasc Authority at the official opening of the Crops and Technology Open Day in Teagasc Oak Park. Picture: Dylan Vaughan "It facilitates informed decision-making by farmers to identify the actions for their own individual farms that will have the greatest impact in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and capturing carbon.' The 'Crops and Technology' Open Day in Oak Park was organised in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal. The open day covered the latest research on all main tillage crops and horticulture field crops, and a major machinery demonstration with particular focus on sprayers and the technology available for more accurate applications. Read More Government sets out next phase of agriculture emission target plans
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
One in three Wicklow farmers still waiting on ACRES payments
ACRES is Ireland's agri-environment climate scheme under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan. This €1.5 billion flagship agri-environment scheme is a farmer-friendly scheme to help address biodiversity decline while delivering an income support for farm families in Ireland. Deputy Whitmore, the Social Democrats spokesperson on agriculture, said: 'According to the latest figures, 62 farmers in Wicklow have yet to receive their advance payment, and 191 are still waiting on any payments. That's nearly one in three participants left in limbo. 'These payments are vital for farmers who are actively working to improve biodiversity and environmental outcomes on their land. Many have already invested time and money into these measures, and the department's failure to deliver payments on time is completely unacceptable. 'Farmers need certainty. If the government wants to encourage participation in schemes like ACRES, it must ensure that payments are made promptly and fairly. Delays like this undermine trust and place unnecessary financial pressure on farming families. I am calling on the Minister for Agriculture to urgently address the backlog and ensure that all outstanding payments are processed without further delay.' At a meeting of the Select Committee on Agriculture and Food held last week, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon acknowledged the significant payment delays experienced with ACRES. More than €500 million has been paid out to Irish farmers since 2023 through ACRES, but a 'dark cloud hangs over it because not every farmer was paid', the minister said, though he expected 'considerable progress' to take place over coming weeks to drive the number of outstanding payments down further.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Irish Times
Dawn Meats co-founder and agri-food entrepreneur Dan Browne dies
Dan Browne, the agri-food entrepreneur and businessman who co-founded Dawn Meats, one of the largest meat companies in Europe, has died at the age of 88. Described as a pioneering figure in Irish agriculture, Browne, originally from Douglas in Cork, founded Dawn Meats along with brothers Peter and John Queally in 1980. He served as the company's managing director for 27 years, developing the business into one of the leading players in the processing sector. The company employs more than 8,000 staff in 12 countries and has an annual revenue of over €3 billion. READ MORE Browne retired from the role in 2007 but continued to be a board member of Dawn and a key adviser to the company's leadership. Browne started his career as a research scientist with An Foras Talúntais (AFT) which later evolved into Teagasc. He is credited with developing the State's national dairy research centre on a then derelict farm at Moorepark, near Fermoy in Co Cork. In the 1970s, he left the world of research and joined the meat industry, becoming manager of the Cork Marts — IMP plant at Midleton, eventually going on to co-found Dawn with John Queally and the late Peter Queally. 'It is with great sadness that Dawn Meats announces the passing of its co-founder Daniel (Dan) Browne today at the age of 88,' Dawn Meats said in a statement. 'The board of Dawn Meats wishes to express its deepest condolences to Mr Browne's wife, Kay, and his family at this difficult time,' it said.
