AQW 17350/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 14/04/2021
Answered On Date: 10/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether (i) his Department; or (ii) the Forest Service have ownership of any trees within the Portavoe Reservoir site.

Answer:

My Department own trees on the land at the Portavoe Reservoir site, which was sold by NI Water in 2020. Forest Service has managed these trees under a management agreement with NI Water (formerly DOE) since 1978.

Following the sale of the land by NI Water to private landowners, the ownership and management of the trees continues as per the agreement with the former landowner NI Water, which is covenanted in the Contracts for Sale relating to the land transfer.