asked the Minister for Lands the total number of forestry workers employed in the financial years 1964-65, 1965-66, and 1966-67; the areas where redundancies amongst forestry workers have occurred; and the reasons for such redundancies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Forestry Workers.
31.
The average number of forestry workers employed in the years specified were as follows, most counties being affected by the reductions shown:
|
1964-65 |
4,812 |
|
1965-66 |
4,668 |
|
1966-67 |
4,134 |
The reasons for reductions, where they occurred varied from forest to forest. The employment pattern of each forest depends on a number of factors arising from the development history of the forest—the plantable reserve, the age-structure and rate of growth of the existing plantations and the incidence of such non-recurrent work as road construction.
As I have many times informed the House, a more stable pattern of forest employment can only be secured by a much improved reserve of plantable land.