asked the Minister for Lands the number of forestry workers employed in each of the years 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 and at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Forestry Workers.
33.
The average number of workers employed were:
|
1965-66— |
4,668 |
|
1966-67— |
4,134 |
|
1967-68— |
3,851 |
|
1968-69— |
3,677 |
|
1969-70— |
3,468 |
The number at present employed is 3,342.
Surely the Minister will agree that arrangements were made some years ago following the introduction of a bonus scheme for forestry workers when many of the older forestry workers were, in fact, let go, when regular staff was established? Does he not think it is rather a pity that the necessary cash cannot be found now to retain those who were under the impression they would be full time in that employment?
I dealt fully with this.
With increased planting and the increased quantity of land year by year which is being put under forestry how does the Minister maintain that forestry work is being properly attended to with this astounding reduction in the number of workers? The number of workers should have been going up every year. I do not want the Minister to say there are new methods and all this type of thing because we have heard that before. What possibility is there that you can reduce the number of forestry workers from approximately 4,500 to approximately 3,500 at a time when the quantity of forestry reaching the age of ten to 20 years is increasing and on which work is continually required? How can this be attended to with this reduced number of workers?
It is mostly mechanisation.