O’Dea supports phone mast protest

THE State forestry agency Coillte makes more than €1.8 million a year by allowing phone masts and other installations on its lands, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea said yesterday.

Mr O’Dea is supporting local opposition in the Murroe area of Limerick to a plan for a mobile phone mast in a nearby forest.

Mr O’Dea said: “I have been told Coillte have 185 masts in forests and earn €10,000 rent yearly for each.” He said it would not be worth Coillte’s time to proceed with its plan.