A TD today confirmed Donegal Daily’s report that the Government is to sell forests in Co Donegal to help pay off our national debts.
Speaking today in response to PQs submitted by him on the issue, Donegal South West TD Pearse Doherty has expressed his anger and concern at the decision to sell 1,109 acres of Coillte land in the County.
The Deputy said: “Forestry, as we have heard time and time again is one of Ireland’s productive and profitable sectors and, with the right investment, is a sustainable industry with the potential to create thousands of jobs.
“Instead of investing in our forestry sector, the Government instead announced a cut of €20 million per annum in the Forestry Budget until 2016 and since 2009 we have seen the sale €108 million of publicly owned lands without any public accountability or scrutiny. Over the same period virtually no dividend was paid to the state as a result of those sales.
“To add insult to injury, once again it appears that Donegal is the target for the heavy blows – over 440 hectares of land is to be sold in this County, which represents a hugely disproportionate figure – the total amount of forestry land sold nationally last year was 346 hectares.
“The Government peddles the idea that Coillte is a private company – we are consistently told this in response to PQs. It is not. The Minister for Agriculture and Finance as sole shareholders on behalf of the state can and must intervene now to prevent the sale of this land.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Agriculture, Martin Ferris last night called on the Government to intervene in order to prevent the proposed sale of Coillte forestry land in Donegal, during a topical issue debate which he successfully requested on the issue.
Deputy Ferris said: “During the 2011 general election campaign spokespersons from both Fine Gael and Labour vehemently denied that they would agree to a sale of forestry or land under the control of Coillte.
“That is exactly what they are proposing to do. Not only will they shortly announce the off-loading of forestry rights but they are presiding over the privatisation by stealth as proven by the sale of the lands in Donegal.
“The forestry lands are held in trust by Coillte for the Irish people. They were taken back from the landlords a century ago and still have huge potential as a recreational, tourist and economic resource to be used for the benefit of the Irish people for generations to come.
“They should not be sold off to finance the Anglo promissory notes.”
Tags:
