COFORD, the Dublin-based National Council for Forest Research and Development, has rejected allegations that it is duplicating the work of other government agencies.
It responded after an item on RTÉ’s Drive Time radio programme alleging duplication and overlaps between the work of COFORD and the Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
“We work very closely with agencies such as Teagasc (the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority) and SEI in developing the forestry sector in Ireland. The contribution of COFORD to these areas fully complements the input from the other agencies,” said COFORD director Dr Eugene Hendrick.
“COFORD is a research commissioning body and does not carry out research in-house. We award research contracts on a competitive basis to third level and other institutions in Ireland. All projects are examined to ensure value for money and delivery of results of relevance for forest policy and practice.
“COFORD’s budget in 2008 is €4.4m. Taking into account the overall value of the forestry sector in Ireland which is now approaching €2bn, and the annual government spend on forestry which is over €140m, the COFORD budget in our view provides excellent value for money and is delivering results that no other agency is currently providing.”
