2730. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the resources and expenditure allocated by Coillte for the inspection and maintenance of forestry fire breaks in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62040/26]

Coillte was established as a commercial state company with private limited status under the Forestry Act, 1988, to become custodian and manager of the national forest estate. The company is currently managing 440,000 hectares of land (7% of the total area of the Republic of Ireland), and its day-to-day operations, such as resourcing and expenditure allocations for the inspection and maintenance of forestry fire breaks are a matter for the company.

I have directed the specific question raised to Coillte for direct reply to the Deputy.