asked the Minister for Lands (a) if he is aware that only eight men are employed on an extensive forestry scheme in the Pettigo district (County Donegal) while there is much unemployment in the district owing to seasonal easing off in council road work, and (b) if he will have the squad increased to a figure commensurate with the extent of the scheme and thus provide employment for the surplus labour in the district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Forestry Employment.
The current staff of eight men is adequate to deal with this year's planting programme of approximately 55 acres at Pettigo Forest. It is not practicable to increase the programme.
Would it be possible to acquire additional land in that district for afforestation purposes?
That is a separate question.
That is rather a separate question. The present position is that the planting reserve is rather small and even if some extra hands were taken on during the present year it would mean less employment later on. If more land comes in, of course, the position may alter in future years.