Coillte has agreed to address a number of concerns that were raised by Leitrim Council officials over their operation practices in the North Leitrim area.
Members of the forestry attended yesterday’s monthly Meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District of Leitrim Councillors.
Local councillors requested the meeting as they wanted to raise a number of concerns they had in relation to how the company was conducting its business in the North Leitrim area.
Paul Jordan a Business Area Unit Team Leader along with Des Phelan the Coillte Distribution manager addressed yesterday’s meeting.
With the current legislation that governs afforestation only have come into effect in 1989, there are still a number of plantations that were planted prior to the introduction of the legalisation and as result there are many legacy issues that the company have to deal with:
The issue of forest fires in the spring and summer are also key issues in Leitrim with so a large area of ground covered by forestry.
Paul Jordan says Coillte have plans in place to deal with the threat of forest fires including having a helicopter available to tackle serious blazes:
The sensitive issue of dealing with sights of historical value is also an issue that Coillte have to be mindful of and indeed it was a subject which was raised during yesterday’s MD meeting.
Paul Jordan now explains how careful consideration is given to what contractors are deployed to such sites and now outlines how contractors have to engage in specific training in advance.
On the thorny issue of Sitka Spruce and the amount of it that currently covers the Leitrim landscape, Jordan says that although more native species will be planted, the commercial value of our old friend Sitka Spruce will still guarantee that a certain amount of it will still be re-planted.
The issue of communication or indeed the lack of was also discussed by Councillors and Council staff with the Coillte representatives,
again this is something that Paul Jordan is eager to evolve in the future
Cathaoirleach of the MD Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Bohan had requested officials from the forestry appear at the meeting to discuss items such as transportation of timber, damage to public roads, tree felling, the re-plantation of forests in the Leitrim and the provision of a bond to cover any damages caused to public roads during the transportation of timber.
Speaking to Ocean FM after the meeting the Drumkeerin based Councillor felt that the meeting which was constructive helped both parties establish a service agreement:
