asked the Minister for Lands whether planting operations on the Meenacree estate, Cappamore, County Limerick, have been assigned to workers in the North Tipperary section of the Forestry Division of his Department, and, if so, if he will have the decision reviewed with a view to having men from County Limerick employed on the work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Limerick Forestry Workers.
Meenacree property, which is on the Tipperary-Limerick border, forms part of Newport forest and the men now working there form part of the Newport forest staff.
The work at Meenacree could not be handed over to men from Cappamore forest without causing redundancy among the Newport labour force and this would be in direct conflict with the Department's policy of maintaining steady employment for as many as possible of its employees.
There is a certain balance just now between the two forests which it would not be desirable to disrupt, but future acquisitions may alter the pattern and lead to the inclusion of Meenacree with Cappamore.