Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
401. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any binding or enforceable targets have been set by his Department in respect of biodiversity outcomes, native woodland expansion, or land-use change on Coillte-managed lands; and if so, the nature of those targets and any consequences for non-compliance. [33486/26]
View answer403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the formal oversight mechanisms his Department applies to monitor the performance of Coillte in delivering national forestry policy objectives; and whether such oversight includes regular reporting, performance metrics, or compliance assessments. [33488/26]
View answer405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has set specific targets for increasing the proportion of native tree species within the Coillte estate; and the timeline and policy instruments in place to achieve any such targets. [33490/26]
View answer407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the updated Shareholder Letter of Expectation for Coillte will be finalised; whether it will include specific, measurable environmental and biodiversity performance indicators; and if it will be published. [33492/26]
View answer408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted any formal assessment of the potential conflict between Coillte's commercial mandate under the Forestry Act 1988 and its expanding role in delivering climate and biodiversity objectives; and if so, to provide details of that assessment. [33493/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 403, 405, 407 and 408 together.
In accordance with the Forestry Act, 1988, Coillte’s mandate is primarily to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis. Coillte's role has evolved in accordance with Government policy to include the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the forestry sector and our rural economy.
The Shareholder Letter of Expectation is the written oversight agreement between the State body and the relevant Ministers. The latest letter which issued to Coillte in 2022, is monitored and reviewed regularly. This letter specifies the shareholders expectations in relation to balancing Coillte’s commercial remit with our national environmental objectives. The letters are published on my Department’s website and discussions on an updated Shareholder Letter of Expectation have started. I would like to assure the Deputy that the focus of this new letter will continue to be on balancing Coillte’s commercial remit with our national environmental objectives and will be published when finalised.
Coillte's Strategic Vision for Our Future Forest Estate sets out its high-level ambitions to 2050 to balance and deliver the multiple benefits of forests for climate action, biodiversity and recreation, while continuing to deliver for the forest and wood product industry.
A guiding principle of delivering on this ambition is to increase the area of its forest estate being managed for nature from 20% to 50% in the long term. As of 2025 Coillte achieved its ambition to manage 30% of its estate primarily for nature and biodiversity.
Any afforestation undertaken by Coillte needs to be in accordance with the requirements set out in the National Forestry Programme 2023-2027 which includes an ambitious annual target for broadleaf planting of 50% of total annual planting, a 20% minimum of broadleaf planting as mandatory for all mixed forest types and 15% of the total area to be afforested to be set aside for Areas of Biodiversity Enhancement.
