Sale “stinks to high heaven and must be halted. Selling off the public forest totally unacceptable”
In a statement this morning, Richard Boys Barrett TD said he was shocked to have it confirmed in a letter from Coillte that they are indeed selling a 39-acre plot of forested land in Enniskerry.
Last week the Dún Laoghaire TD heard from a constituent that a plot of Coillte owned land in Enniskerry is up for sale. After looking into it he discovered that O’Neill Flanagan in Aughrim are selling a 39 Acre (16 Hectare) plot of land, known as Killegar Forest, just outside his constituency at the Scalp, for €250,000. The deputy raised the issue on the floor of the Dáil earlier this week, and the Taoiseach said he would look into it.
The deputy wrote to Coillte on 3 November and can confirm that yesterday he received a reply to say that they were indeed selling the land because “Coillte was approached by an interested party in relation to the purchase of these lands”.
The letter further confirmed that “Coillte’s Property Team have undertaken many land transactions in recent years, including the sale of small plots for residential expansion as well as larger sites for infrastructure or development.”
Deputy Boyd Barrett said: “I cannot believe that, at a time when we are supposed to be increasing our forest cover, our national forestry company, Coillte, is selling a forest of 16 hectares that is a public amenity with a right of way through it and also is of much heritage value, as home to Bornze Age Cooking pits. What make matters worse, is that they seem to have decided to do this because they were “approached by an interested party in relation to the purchase of these lands”. If this is the only reasoning for this, there is clearly no strategic planning at Coillte and the so called “stewards” of our national forest is being driven by its own pecuniary interests!
“The other worrying thing in the letter is that this seems to be par for the course at Coillte because the “Property Team have undertaken many land transactions in recent years, including the sale of small plots for residential expansion as well as larger sites for infrastructure or development.”
“The price tag at €250,000 for 39 acres also seems incredibly low. Between the price on the one hand and the fact that it is being sold because “an interested party” approached them makes the whole thing stink to high heaven.
“I have submitted parliamentary questions calling on the Ministers for Agriculture and Heritage to intervene and stop the sale of the lands.”
Notes to editors:
PQs submitted
To ask the Minister for Agriculture if Coillte need his permission to sell any or part of their forestry land and to make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture if Coillte sought his permission or advice with regard to their decision to put the site at Killegar in Enniskerry up for sale and to make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if they have had any discussions with Coillte with regards to their decision to sell a site at Killegar in Enniskerry that is the home of Bronze Age cooking pits and to make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, if he is aware that 39.5 acres/16 hectares of forestry land, owned by Coillte, called Killegar, in Enniskerry is for sale and if he will take immediate action to ensure this land is not sold and to make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Authorities and Heritage if he is aware that 39.5 acres/16 hectares of forestry land that also has ancient bronze age cooking pits on it, owned by Coillte, called Killegar, in Enniskerry is for sale and if he will take immediate action to ensure this land is not sold and to make a statement on the matter.
Letter to Coillte
It has recently come to my attention that 16 hectares of forestry land, owned by Coillte is up for sale. The site is called Killegar and is in Enniskerry and is for sale with O’Neill Flanagan in Aughrim.
I am shocked that Coillte would currently be selling forestry land, when we need, more than ever to increase our percentage of land under forestry. The government’s own target is to increase forest cover to 17% of our land by 2030. Personally I would like to see more ambitious targets and I firmly believe the only way we can achieve any increase in forest cover is to ensure that the state forestry company, Coillte, increases its forests. In this context I would appreciate answers to the following questions.
1. What is your reasoning for selling this land?
2. Have you had discussions with the Minister for Agriculture with regards to the selling of this land? If so, what was the nature of these discussions and what was the Minister’s opinion on this? Was he required to give a permission for this land to be solf?
3. Are you aware the site is of major geological significance? If so what was your assessment of this significance and were you in discussions with any government bodies in this regard?
4. Are you aware that this site is also home to bronze age cooking pits? If so were you in touch with the Minister for Heritage or any other person or body, in this regard and what was their response?
I hope that you might be able to come back to me as soon as possible on this. I am also submitting similar questions to the relevant ministers in the form of Parliamentary Questions.
Thanks and regards
Richard Boyd Barrett TD
People Before Profit
Reply from Coillte:
Dear Richard,
Many thanks for your mail and for the enquiry in relation to a proposed land sale in Killegar, Enniskerry, County Wicklow.
Coillte manage over 440,000 hectares of land across the country. Coillte’s Property Team have undertaken many land transactions in recent years, including the sale of small plots for residential expansion as well as larger sites for infrastructure or development. This benefits industry, commerce, individuals, and communities right around the country. Coillte also actively seek to acquire land, both bare land and immature forestry to enable us carry out our business in a sustainable manner.
In relation to your specific queries on this land sale, Coillte was approached by an interested party in relation to the purchase of these lands. In all cases of land transactions, Coillte follows the Code of Practice for State Bodies in relation to land acquisition and disposal. Coillte is aware of both the geology and cultural heritage interests of the site and of the two monuments on the site which are classed as enclosures. Should the lands sell, Coillte would notify the purchaser (through the legal sales contract) of their obligations in how those monuments are managed and protected.
Coillte are proud to be the custodian and steward of the State forests of Ireland and work to deliver the multiple benefits of our forests, for climate, for people, for nature and for wood. We are very conscious of the positive role that forests can play in addressing climate change, protecting nature, providing green spaces to contribute towards people’s overall wellbeing while also enabling a vibrant Irish forestry sector which supports over 12,000 jobs mostly in rural Ireland. We have ambitious plans to increase the amount of forests that we manage in collaboration with our neighbours, landowners and our regulators.
Should you have any additional enquiries, or require any further clarification please do not hesitate to contact us,
Kind Regards
Subsequent PQ:
To ask the Minister for Agriculture to provide details of any lands sold by Coillte, any lands currently for sale and any lands being considered for sale over the last 5 years, including size of lands, salle price or asking price and location of these lands and to make a statement on the matter.
Deputy Boyd Barrett
