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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 1922

Vol. 1 No. 28

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - AFFORESTATION SCHEMES.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture whether any proposals have been made by the Government to owners of land suitable for afforestation with a view to the planting during the present planting season, and whether any policy has been considered having in view the utilisation of unemployed agricultural labourers in afforestation schemes.

No specific proposal has been made by the Government to owners of lands for afforestation, with a view to planting during the present season. During the past 22 years the Department have urged private owners, in every way that was possible, to plant bare land and replant worn-out woods, but the Department had no power to compel owners to act on this advice, nor had they funds at their disposal to enable grants or subsidies to be given for the work. Technical advice has been given as required from time to time on various matters connected with forestry operations, but initiative in actual afforestation work by private owners had necessarily to be left to the owners themselves. No opportunity has been afforded for changing this policy during the present planting season. With regard to the utilisation of unemployed agricultural labourers, this policy forms part of the ordinary afforestation programme of the Department on the lands which have been acquired for State forestry; local circumstances, however, necessitate modification, from time to time, at various centres. A certain number of men have to be permanently employed at each forestry centre, and when so engaged they cease to be unemployed agricultural labourers, assuming them to have been such in the first instance. When taking on additional labourers in a temporary capacity, whether in summer or winter, the Department cannot differentiate between agricultural labourers and other unemployed men in the locality. The Department's programme for the current season contemplates the planting, or replanting, of, approximately, 1,000 acres of bare ground at the various centres throughout the country. In this work permanent labourers will be supplemented by temporary men who, it is assumed are unemployed when taken on, and who will number from 50 to 100, employed for various periods as the work requires. The money voted, and the stock of plants available, will not admit of any substantial expansion of this programme.

Is it the view of the Department that the numbers 50 to 100 ought to be greatly increased? Are you prepared to recommend the application of moneys for that purpose?

The view of the Department is that the number of men, plus the permanent men, is sufficient to do the work, the work being the planting of about 1,000 acres of land during the current season.

Is that all that ought to be planted?

That is all that can be planted with the money allocated for the purpose; that is to say, £33,000.

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