asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (a) the number of forest workers employed at Dungarvan forest, County Waterford, on 31 December 1981; (b) the area and condition of standing timber at that forest; (c) the number of man weeks of employment in 1981; (d) the estimated man weeks of employment in 1982 on the assumption that normal work in the forest and the extraction of standing timber is carried out by his Department's forest workers in 1982; and (e) if his Department has disposed of or intends disposing of standing timber to self-employed contractors in 1982; and if so, the extent of the redundancies likely to occur through a diminution of direct employment.
Written Answers. - County Waterford Forest Centres.
778.
Following are replies to the various parts of the question:— (a) Ten men. (b) Area (stocked) at 31/12/81 — 1,146 hectares. Condition of standing timber: On the assumption that this relates to the stage of the crop as regards thinning and clearfelling, the position is that as yet no thinning has been programmed for 1982 and decisions as to clearfelling are dependent on market considerations. (c) 546 man weeks. (d) 520 man weeks originally programmed. However, the current work situation has necessitated the temporary redeployment of some workers to a neighbouring forest in the interests of avoiding redundancies. The 1982 programme does not envisage the extraction by forest workers of timber sold standing. (e) Some standing timber has been sold to a major saw-miller who will make his own harvesting arrangements. This is the general practice in most areas and the bulk of timber sales are made on that basis. Further such sales may be made during the year depending on the market situation. No redundancies are currently envisaged.
779.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of forest workers in regular employment at each forest centre in County Waterford at the end of each quarter year in 1981 and at March, 1982, indicating the likely employment levels at those centres at the end of each quarter year in 1982.
Following are the particulars requested:—
|
1981 |
1982 |
||||
|
Forest |
Quarter ended March 31 |
Quarter ended June 30 |
Quarter ended September 30 |
Quarter ended December 31 |
Quarter ended March 31 |
|
No. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
No. |
|
|
Ballyduff |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
Cappoquin |
9 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
9 |
|
Clonmel |
9 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
|
Comeragh |
15 |
10 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Curraghmore |
8 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
|
Dungarvan |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
7 |
|
Kilmacthomas |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
|
Kilsheelan |
18 |
17 |
17 |
19 |
18 |
|
Melleray |
7 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
|
Nier |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Ring |
10 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
|
Tallow |
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
Tramore |
7 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
|
Totals |
134 |
130 |
135 |
137 |
127 |
It is envisaged that employment for the remainder of the year will remain at or about the current level.