Up to 110 posts at risk at Coillte

FEARS have been expressed for the future of the forestry industry with news that up to 100 jobs are to be lost at Coillte.

The state forestry body confirmed it had agreed terms with trade union SIPTU for a scheme of early retirement/voluntary redundancies for a number of industrial staff.

Christy Nolan, chairman of the Irish Forestry Contractors Association, said he had been told up to 110 jobs were to be shed.

However, a Coillte spokeswoman said it could not anticipate how many staff would apply to avail of the scheme but it was likely to be less than the figure of 110.

Mr Nolan said the whole concept of forestry in Ireland could become unsustainable if Coillte were to lose staff.

“There is no planting programme, it is being reduced to almost nothing,” he said.

He said the national crop was deteriorating rapidly.

Coillte employs about 1,200 people and was established in 1988. It owns more than 445,000 hectares of land.