To continue, Sir, the story of the various sub-heads, I now come to sub-head D— Grants for Afforestation Purposes— amounting to £1,000. A review of the progress made under the earlier schemes shows that the rate of planting on private lands has been disappointingly small, and the Department has had under consideration for some time past the question of the best method of inducing and assisting landowners to plant trees on their own lands. The grant of £4 per acre which has been payable up to the present has been found to be inadequate, and the minimum of five acres required under the scheme ruled out many persons anxious to plant but who could not devote such a large area to the purpose. With the consent of the Minister for Finance I have, therefore, decided to increase the total amount of the grant from £4 to £10 per acre and to reduce to one acre the minimum area necessary to qualify for a grant. The grant will be payable in two instalments, one of £5 immediately after planting has been satisfactorily carried out, and a similar amount after a period of five years, provided the plantation has been satisfactorily maintained in the meantime. Maintenance will involve the replacement of failures, adequate fencing against stock and rabbits and such other attention as may be necessary to enable the plantation to establish itself successfully. At the present time stocks of plants in the commercial nurseries are limited and fencing wire almost unprocurable, so that no immediate increase in the rate of private planting can be expected, but it is hoped that in the near future as many landowners as possible will take advantage of this scheme and that there will be a considerable amount of private planting done to supplement the efforts of the State Forestry Service to increase the area of woodlands in the country and to provide from our own resources in the future a greater proportion of our needs in timber.
If the Department's hopes are to be realised, and if any great advantage is to be taken of these grants, it is essential that there should be adequate stocks of plants to be had, and it is hoped that nurseries which cater for the trade in forest trees, will, in their own and in the general interests, proceed to build up stocks of healthy young trees as rapidly as possible. Admittedly seed is at present both dear and hard to get, but the prospects of an assured market for the produce should encourage nurserymen to do their utmost to get supplies.
Sub-head H—Appropriations-in-Aid —comes to £54,140. There is a considerable decrease in the estimated revenue for this year as compared with last year mainly in consequence of a falling off in large sales of timber. Such a decrease is inevitable in view of the fact that the quantity of mature timber in the hands of the Forestry Division was limited and heavy inroads have been made into that stock. Sales to the same extent as in the past few years could only be made by disposing of all the remaining stands, and it is considered desirable to retain a few lots against possible urgent demands for vital national purposes. On the other hand, increases are expected in the returns from sale of sawn timber and small local sales of both timber and firewood.
During the past year about 35 large lots of timber, comprising 26,000 trees were advertised and sold, and 72 smaller lots, comprising approximately 10,000 trees and 60,000 poles, were sold locally either by tender or auction. As regards firewood, 3,925 tons of logs were sent to Fuel Importers and about 16,000 tons sold locally. The output of firewood blocks was disposed of to the extent of 3,393 tons sent to the Dublin Corporation and 7,000 tons sold locally. In addition, the Forestry Division has, at the request of the Department of Defence, arranged to make available for Army use some thousands of tons, and the work of felling and preparing this is already in hands. In view of the great demand and the limited supply of firewood now available in the State forests the proper disposal of lots as they become available is one of the Forestry Division's most difficult problems, and while it is impossible to satisfy all the demands made upon the Department, or to undertake to supply large quantities to particular firms or individuals, I am satisfied that the Forestry Division is doing its best and that its efforts to be fair and reasonable to everybody are meeting with success generally.
So far as the Forestry Act is concerned, the volume of felling on private estates shows no signs of abatement, but it is very disturbing to note that the amount of felling done illegally is increasing. There are no acceptable excuses for actions of this nature. Generally speaking, no obstacle is placed by my Department in the way of felling of small numbers of trees required by landowners for their own use, and a little forethought will enable any person who wishes to fell trees to comply with the requirements of the Forestry Act, and to secure consent to the felling of such trees as it is not essential to leave standing. The excuse is frequently made that immediate felling was necessary on account of tillage operations, and that the crop in a particular field was badly damaged the previous year by overshading trees, and so on. But surely the obvious course in such circumstances is to lodge a felling notice immediately and not to wait until the field is being ploughed and then proceed to fell either without lodging a felling notice at all or without waiting for the consent of the Department. Explanations of this kind are not good enough.
As regards replanting operations to be undertaken as a condition of the issue of a licence to fell, the Department is aware that at present suitable plants are both scarce and expensive and fencing materials almost unprocurable. In these circumstances an extension of the period within which the planting must be done is granted in every case in which it is asked for, but this does not mean that the replanting condition has been waived. When conditions return to normal, and particularly in view of the considerably increased monetary assistance now being offered every case will be taken up again and prosecution will follow where it is clear that no serious attempt is being made by the licensee to comply with the obligations he has accepted. It is hoped, however, that such action will not be forced upon the Department but that in fact, with the aid of the increased grant, persons who have suitable land available will not only carry out their contracts but will undertake additional planting.
A very detailed report of the activities of the Forestry Division for the five years ended on 31st March, 1943, is at present being printed and copies will be laid on the Table of the House as soon as possible.
Owing to circumstances over which my Department has no control it was not possible during the past year to introduce the new legislation in regard to afforestation matters mentioned by my predecessor in introducing the Estimates for 1943-44. A Forestry Bill has now been drafted and I hope to be in a position to acquaint the House with its provisions in the course of the present year.