asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the total quantity of commercial timber felled under licence during the emergency period, the total quantity of trees replanted in accordance with the replanting obligations of such licences, and the total quantity remaining to be replanted under those obligations; further, what is his Department's policy in relation to the outstanding obligations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commercial Timber.
Statistics relating to the number of trees covered by felling licences are not available prior to 1941-42 but, taking the five year period 1941-42 to 1945-46 inclusive, the number of trees for which felling licences were granted was 2,365,600. The number of trees of commercial quality in this total is not known but it was probably about 1,500,000.
Replanting obligations were attached to only some of the licences in question. Replanting conditions imposed during the period called for the replanting of a total of 20,786,000 trees. The extent to which these replanting conditions have as yet been fulfilled could not be ascertained without disproportionate expenditure of staff-time.
Replanting conditions involve a legal obligation and there can be no question of allowing them to remain outstanding indefinitely.
Can the Minister add anything to the reply to the last part of the question? What is the Department's policy in relation to obligations for replanting?
I think I have made it as clear as I can. Replanting conditions involve legal obligations. There can be no question of allowing replanting to remain outstanding indefinitely. That means that as soon as replanting conditions can be enforced, provided private nurseries can supply the plants, those who have the ground to which replanting conditions attach will be made fulfil their obligation.