Body criticises Coillte’s prices ‘uneconomic’ rates
But according to the preliminary findings of a report for the Irish Forestry Contractors Association (IFCA), the industry is now in crisis due to the “uneconomic rates” paid by Coillte for harvesting and hauling timber.
The average rate is €8 per tonne. But the report recommends this be raised to at least €13 per tonne. The State-owned company dominates the forestry industry and spends around €20 million on timber harvesting contracts and €10m on haulage.