asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the large number of unemployed at the present time, he will have extra jobs created in afforestation as there are thousands of acres of land in the hands of his Department to be planted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Employment
32.
The planning of the State afforestation programme requires the maintenance of a substantial land reserve to ensure orderly development and to avoid violent fluctuation in the labour force. The existing land reserve is barely adequate to support the 25,000 acre planting programme which was restored last year and which it is intended to maintain in the coming planting season.
There is no prospect, therefore, of creating additional employment by a further substantial increase in State afforestation.
In view of the high rate of unemployment in the country I find it difficult to accept that instead of employment increasing in afforestation, the force has been dwindling rapidly. Could the Minister do anything even to halt that decline in the number of workers?
I have done something in this respect.
There are approximately half the number employed in afforestation today as there were in 1965.
That is so and for reasons that the Deputy will understand, mechanisation and so on, but I think the Deputy will agree that I did halt further reductions in the manpower towards the end of last year. I intend to maintain the present force.
I am delighted to hear that that much is being done.
Would the Minister not agree that the first thinning of the forests is not being carried out in time with the result that there is inadequate growth?
I would not consider that to be so.
It is so and I can quote examples to the Minister.