The union for Coillte workers is welcoming the decision not to sell it, saying it's a common sense approach.

The Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney says the focus must instead be on restructuring Coillte - and working on a beneficial merger with Bord na Mona.

The Government was considering selling Coillte's forestry rights to the state's woodlands, to raise funds by the sale of state assets.

However, Niall Shanahan from the IMPACT trade union says the sale would have cost the state more than it would have generated.