asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if consideration will be given to the setting up of a State industry for processing the products of our forests, in view of the prospect of the establishment of a commercially viable timber processing industry, in order that tax-payers will obtain the full benefit of their investment in the forestry programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Timber Industry.
25.
The Industrial Development Authority in consultation with my Department are at present engaged in a sectoral study of the timber industry. It would be desirable to await the outcome of the study before reaching decisions on the future processing plants which may be required to utilise our increasing wood resources.
In the meantime while this inquiry, discussion and investigation are going on with the longer term in view, is there anything the Minister might do or might influence other Departments to do to utilise the forest products, timber thinnings and so on that are now coming out of the forests in the north-west in abundance and for which there is no processing available there and which, to whatever degree they are used, are being exported, treated or processed and re-imported into the State? Does he not think something should be done about it, not necessarily by his Department? The IDA could do a lot in this regard but they are hamstrung by authority as well.
I have directed the attention of my Department to the need for a timber processing outlet in the north-west. On my assessment of the situation there is a strong case in principle for such an outlet to be established in that general area namely, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.
In the meantime would the Minister indicate his very vital interest in this matter? On an interim basis would he have regard to the view held by some of the IDA people that for small processing and so forth there could be made available grants which are being denied at the moment to small operators in Donegal for providing posts, palings, staffs and so forth which we are now sending into the Six Counties having them processed there and then re-imported from there? We cannot get a bob to set up a small plant to do any of that type of work, which is an interim measure; it is not the answer.
Question No. 26.
I will make that point of view know to the IDA.
Can the Minister say what the prospects are for expansion in the existing timber processing factories under his aegis, one of which is in my constituency, with a view to the provision of more employment?
It is a very real problem at the moment but it is only short-term. The long-term situation with regard to timber processing is good but at the moment there is a certain Third World dumping within the Community from countries like Sweden which is causing problems all through the Community and it is reflected in our problems in Munster Chipboard, in Scariff and in Athy. We are committed to support the timber processing industry and we have done so in a very practical way in Athy already.
In what way?
Financially.
What steps have been taken to stop this dumping?
The steps have been taken at Community level and we have taken a very positive part in pushing this.
I ask the Minister not to be blinded by the difficulties that are being met up with by Scariff and the other processing factories at the moment to the great need for processing in the north-west. The expansion to any of the others does not and cannot in an economic, viable way meet the timbers coming from the forests in the north-west.
I agree with the Deputy. This is only a short-term temporary problem that we are having. As far as the long run is concerned we must get an outlet for our thinnings and for the forestry production which is growing and we want more sophisticated processing.
Would the Chair agree it is a pity that we do not have international soccer matches every day? They would work wonders in the disposal of questions?
I agree.