A Sligo Leitrim TD has described plans by Coillte to enter into a joint venture arrangement with international private investment funds to support the purchase and planting of more than 50,000 hectares of land as a "land grab".
Deputy Marian Harkin said it's proposed approximately 250,000 acres of forestry will be managed by Coillte, but 50 per cent will be owned by a foreign investment fund and 50 per cent by an Irish entity.
Independent TD Harkin believes local farmers would be ones to lose out in the long-term:
[audio mp3="https://img.oceanfm.ie/prod/uploads/2023/01/HARKINFORWEB.mp3"][/audio]
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