asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of the Kilworth forestry area (a) the number of men employed during the peak periods in the years 1954 and 1955, (b) the number now employed, (c) the total acreage in the possession of his Department which is still unplanted, (d) the number of acres which it is proposed to plant in the next planting season, and (e) why provision for the resumption of planting was not made towards the end of the thinning programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilworth Forestry Area.
The total area of this forest has remained almost unchanged at 2,000 acres since 1923. Very little plantable land has accrued during those years. The only addition of plantable land since 1923 has been a small area of 42 acres in 1954. Between nursery work, planting and maintenance, the normal staff is approximately 30. In order to bring the arrears of thinnings up-to-date, it was necessary to employ extra staff, which brought the maximum number in 1954 to 63 men and in the early part of this year to 113. The arrears of thinnings have now been completely liquidated and a consequent reduction in staff to a current figure of 30 has taken place. The total unplanted area is 53 acres, of which 27½ acres will be planted in the coming year. In addition, an area of 152¼ acres is scheduled for replanting or for replacement of failures. For technical reasons, it would not be possible to undertake planting operations earlier than November and, in fact, most planting is done after Christmas. Work preparatory to planting is on hands at Kilworth at present.
As this forest is surrounded by a very good arable area, I do not see much prospect of further expansion in the immediate future. There is an area of approximately 150 acres likely to come in shortly, but apart from this, prospects of expansion are extremely limited.