Labour: Forestry could have crucial role in assisting economic recovery

FORESTRY has major potential in assisting economic recovery and creating jobs in the future.

That’s the view of Labour agri-business spokesman Sean Sherlock TD, who said Coillte’s appearance next Wednesday before the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture was welcome.

Mr Sherlock noted that Coillte’s 2008 annual report showed profit fall to €9.2 million, down 77% on the previous year.

But he said there is major economic growth potential in wind energy to more than 400 megawatts on lands owned by Coillte.

“This, coupled with Coillte’s designation of 15% of its 65,000 hectares to be designated for nature, speaks volumes about the potential to develop a jobs mix around the concept of forestry,” he said. Mr Sherlock said there is clearly major potential in this regard for tourism, energy and product development.

“The development of over 90km of cycle trails in the Ballyhoura Mountain range, for example, clearly shows there is potential for an expansion of this model to develop a package of proposals around outdoor activities throughout the country,” he said.

Mr Sherlock said Coillte’s wind energy portfolio will be based on an active examination of its lands to include “sale or lease of sites to third parties”, and developing lands themselves or in partnership with others.

“There must be a real political response to creating an economic package around meeting energy requirements. “Coillte will play an active part in this process and Government has to respond favourably.

“We have a comparative advantage in this area, but we are not realising its full potential,” he said.

Mr Sherlock said there is no doubt but that the downturn of the construction industry has caused attrition in turnover.

The responsibility of the Government will be to assist Coillte in enhancing its product mix, which varies between tourism and the development of new wood products and contributing to the country’s energy needs in the future, he said.