‘Wood’ it be alright if Galway cashed in Millennium Trees?

People hoping for a cut of the profits from Galway’s Millennium Forests plantation scheme have been told by Coillte that they are barking up the wrong tree.

In 2000, the late Minister Seamus Brennan introduced a scheme where trees would be planted on behalf of all 1.2 million families in the State.

But citizens have now been told there isn’t a stem of truth in the rumours that they are entitled to an ‘encashment reward’ when the trees mature.

Galway county councillor Michael Fahy told the Connacht Tribune that he has been contacted by numerous people recently, enquiring when they would receive their ‘entitlements’.

“A lot of people thought at the time back in 2000 that they would get a cheque when the trees were cut after maturing. At the time, the scheme looked very impressive – a tree being donated by the State to every household,” he said.

Cllr Fahy got to the root of the problem by contacting Coillte, who told him that all trees will remain in ownership of the State, and there will not be any payouts to households.

“If there’s any benefit here, it’s the Government that will get it. That’s not what the people were led to believe,” said Cllr Fahy.

Daithi de Forge, Recreation Manager with Coillte, said the state body will not be branching out into providing cash windfalls.

“This query refers to encashment at maturity for each tree. The answer is that there isn’t one,” he said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.