I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £10 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1945, for salaries and expenses in connection with forestry (9 and 10 Geo. 5, c, 58, and No. 34 of 1928), including certain Grants-in-Aid.
The additional sum which the Dáil is asked to provide is in respect of sub-head C (2), which deals with the planting of forest lands, the upkeep of plantations and the repair of roads. The excess of £26,000 on the original gross Estimate is due to the fact that considerably more work was carried out on the production of fuel than was anticipated. A number of roads have had to be repaired owing to damage caused by the extraction of heavy timber and cartage costs have increased considerably since last year. A token Vote only will be required, as savings and increased receipts will account for a sum which can be offset against the increased expenditure. In an effort to meet as far as possible the demand for commercial timber for essential industrial purposes, the Department has found it necessary to place on the market during 1944-45 greater quantities of mature timber than was intended when the original Estimate for Forestry for the year was being prepared. Receipts under the emergency fuel schemes were also greater than was anticipated. The extra receipts, together with small savings on other sub-heads will, it is anticipated, account for a sum of £25,590, so that the net additional amount the Dáil is asked to provide is £10.
