Oral Question on Coillte geological survey

Parliamentary Question No.108

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has seen the results of the geological survey conducted by Coillte; if he intends to make that survey public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Thomas Pringle.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 26th March, 2013.

Ref No: 15009/13 Lottery: 3 Proof: 110

REPLY

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine: (Simon Coveney)
This query about a geological survey has been asked in the House on a number of occasions. The background is that Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the conduct of surveys, are the responsibility of the company. My Department has contacted Coillte who have advised that they have not conducted a geological survey of the estate.
I note that this issue was raised by Deputy Ferris when Coillte met with the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine last October in reply to which Coillte management stated that, while they have information on the extent of deposits of stone, sand and gravel, with regard to other deposits, such as precious metals, the company has done no work in that area. I understand that Coillte also suggested that the Geological Survey of Ireland might be a possible source of information.
Coillte has since advised my Department that it commissioned a study from NUI Galway in 2005 to identify and assess the extent of stone, sand and gravel deposits in areas of the estate where national data from Geological Survey of Ireland maps indicated that such deposits might exist.
My Department does not have a copy of that report.

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