I move:
That a sum not exceeding £19,574,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1982, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, including sundry grants-in-aid.
With your permission, Sir, I propose that the traditional practice of discussing the Fisheries and Forestry Estimates simultaneously be followed — in which case I shall move the Forestry Estimate when the debate concludes.
These Estimates were of course settled by the previous Government and as a result of their efforts to reduce overall expenditure the Fisheries Estimate shows a decrease of £620,000 as compared with last year's Vote.
The overrall decrease is due mainly to a reduction of £1,899,990 in An Bord Iascaigh Mhara's capital development grant. Increases have occurred in the grant for sea fisheries development, inland fisheries development and the grant-in-aid for the Salmon Research Trust of Ireland Incorporated, and the provision for the repayment of advances.
While, as Minister responsible, I would like to see greater expenditure on our fisheries and particularly on inland fishery development, I must accept that fisheries is receiving a fair share of the available resources.
The value of domestic landings of sea fish in 1981, excluding salmon landings, amounted to £35.4 million as against £28.9 million in 1980 an increase of 18 per cent. In addition there were landings into foreign ports valued in excess of £5 million. The total quantity of fish landed at home ports in 1981 was approximately 177,000 tonnes. This is a record figure and represents an increase of 42.000 tonnes over the 1980 catch.
The value of exports of all fish and fishery products has reached the record figure of £51 million as compared with £41 million in 1980, representing an increase of 24 per cent. Over 60 firms are involved in fish processing operations employing about 1,700 people. A total of 27 projects, incorporating either new processing plants or extensions to existing ones were approved for grant purposes in the calendar year 1981 involving a total capital investment of £7.4 million including State investment of £2.86 million.
The large increase on our catch last year is clear evidence of the capabilities of our fishermen who can now compete on the fishing grounds with their counterparts from other fishing nations. Unfortunately, unit prices did not keep pace with the increase in landings but prices, I am glad to say, are for most varieties showing an upward trend. Mackerel, of course, was the main contributor to the increased catch and our processors, exporters and fishermen deserve congratulations for the fact that virtually all landings of mackerel were disposed of for human consumption. It is true, of course, that large quantities of mackerel were purchased for freezing aboard eastern European freezer trawlers. There are those who say that this processing should take place ashore in Ireland and that is our ultimate aim. However, pending the full development of our processing facilities the freezer trawlers can provide a useful outlet subject, of course, to proper control and monitoring of their activities.
As I said in the House during the debate on the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, what the fishing industry now needs is confidence. I aim to give it that confidence. I have already had discussions with the main representative organisations in the industry and it is my intention, following further discussions with those bodies and in consultation with BIM, to produce a new fisheries development programme. A greater emphasis on refurbishing of the existing fleet, increased productivity and particularly on marketing will form part of such programme.
The grant-in-aid to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara for 1982 for administration and current developments amounts to £5,010,000 and the grant-in-aid for capital development amounts to £3,500,000. Additional funds are available by way of repayable advances from the Central Fund, a line of credit from financial institutions and the Board's own resources to meet the demand by fishermen for loans for boats, gear, etc. In addition to subvention towards the purchase of boats and gear the board's grant-in-aid for capital development also covers the provisions of services to the fishing industry such as ice plants and training facilities and grants for mariculture. While it appears the grants available will be sufficient to provide grants under the BIM marine credit plan for all suitably qualified applicants making application, there will be a shortfall in repayable advances, something that should have been foreseen by the previous Government when the Estimates were approved.
Interest in aquaculture in Ireland has grown rapidly in recent years, especially in the area of marine aquaculture, with the emphasis on oyster, mussel and escallop cultivation. Although marine species such as oysters and mussels have been raised artificially for many years, their culture is a relatively new technology with continuing developments in methods of culture and this experimentation along with cultivation in new untried areas requires a period of testing and evaluation before success can be assured.
The continuance of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara's mariculture grant scheme geared to the development of fish farming projects again played a significant role in the development of this sector. Last year, the value of production was £1.8 million, this year it is expected to be well in excess of £2 million. This is an area where progress is possible and I am examining ways and means of accelerating our mariculture development. We have many advantages in Ireland in this field but careful planning and research is essential to ensure success.
A sum of £4.15 million has been included in the Estimate for fishery harbour works. This provision will be expended mainly on the on-going development schemes at the major fishery harbour centres at Howth and Killybegs. Work is being or will be undertaken at 12 other locations including Castletownbere. Rossaveal, Schull, Cahirciveen, Portevlin, Kilcummin and Killala. Now that the development of the five major fishery harbour centres is nearing completion, it will be possible in the future to give more attention to minor harbours and landing places.
The Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, which were set up in October 1980 continue to work for the better conservation, protection and development of every aspect of our inland fisheries. The first elections to regional fisheries boards were held in December 1981 and the seats on the central and regional boards are now filled. The membership of each regional board represents the various fishery interests in the region.
Under section 32 of the Fisheries Act, 1980, the introduction of a staff scheme for the staff of the central and regional boards is well under way and a draft scheme is with the unions concerned. Also, I am glad to say that a superannuation scheme for the staff of the central and regional boards is at an advanced stage and is at present with the unions. It is hoped to be able to introduce this scheme shortly, a long overdue scheme which will give continuity of employment and security to staffs of the regional boards.
The most important aspects of our inland fisheries is our salmon fisheries. Provisional figures for 1981 show that the total weight of the salmon catch by all fishing methods was 655 metric tonnes valued at £2.3 million as compared with 895 metric tonnes in 1980 valued at £3.2 million. The overall weight of our salmon catch in 1981 showed a fall of almost 27 per cent on the 1980 catch which in turn was 16 per cent below the catch of 1,073 metric tonnes in 1979. This decline in recent years continues to be a cause for great concern. For my part I am committed to the full enforcement of the law against illegal salmon fishing and the Department have again arranged for vessels of the Naval Service to patrol our salmon fisheries during the present season in support of the fisheries protection staff of the regional boards and the Garda. Unfortunately, a work to rule by the protection staff reduced the protection provided for a period to an unacceptable level but I am pleased to say that the dispute has now been settled.
As Deputies will be aware the salmon levy has been discontinued from 1 June, 1982. A total of £280,000 in levy has been collected to date. While the levy was not acceptable to the industry there is general agreement that those who benefit from the development of our inland fisheries should contribute towards the cost of this development with the State, which is contributing £4.4 million in the current year.
As the time available to me is limited I will conclude my remarks on fisheries by a brief reference to the discussions on the EEC Common Fisheries Policy. There has been little progress since the matter was discussed in this House recently. The most recent meeting of the Council of Ministers failed to resolve the outstanding issues. I made it clear to the Council that the present Commission proposals were completely inadequate as far as Ireland is concerned and as a result of my stand, improved quotas for a number of species have been proposed for Ireland. Another meeting of the council is due to be held within the next two weeks and I can promise the House that I will continue to work to the limit of my ability to obtain a satisfactory policy for the Irish fishing industry.
I will now deal with the Forestry Estimate. The nett amount required this year —£34,787,000, represents an increase of £767,000 — or only 2 per cent — as compared with last year. The increase, which is mainly due to higher salaries and wages, the introduction of grants payable under the western development scheme and the increased cost of services, is partly offset by an increase of £1.65 million in appropriations-in-aid.
Some of the subheads provide for roughly the same level of activity as last year and do not call for any special comment but if Deputies want detailed information about them I will be happy to provide it in my reply. I will therefore concentrate for the most part on the other provisions in the Estimate.
Subhead A.1 — £9,580,000 provides for the salaries, wages and allowances of the Forest and Wildlife Service administrative and technical personnel. There is an increase of £59,410 compared with last year. Increases arising from the current agreement on pay in the public service will be provided for in the global vote for Increases in Remuneration.
Subhead B.1 — £2,164,000 provides for travelling and incidental expenses and shows an increase of £619,000 on last year's allocation. Heavy expenditure on travel — which is unavoidable, given the dispersed nature of the forests, is essential if field operations, including supervision of a large workforce, are to be efficiently carried out.
Subhead B.2 — £659,000 relates to the cost of postal and telecommunication services. The substantial increase of £422,700 this year, is due to the cost of operating the switchboard service at the Department's new offices in Leeson Lane, increased postal charges, and the provision of new telex services.
Subhead C.1 — £3,200,000 is a grant-in-aid for the acquisition of land. The balance in the acquisition fund at 31 December 1981, viz £653,000, together with £3.2 million now being provided should bring in about 18,000 acres in the current year. The level of land acquisition in recent years has been quite unsatisfactory — especially having regard to the existing land reserve situation which, as well as being unevenly distributed, is now at a very low level. The pattern of funding for the current year's acquisition programme was set by the previous administration and the maximum use is being made of it. However, since land acquisition is the life-blood of the afforestation programme I am less than happy with the degree of funding for the purpose. The provision of adequate finance for the acquisition programme in the years immediately ahead is something to which I will be giving serious consideration.
Subhead C.2: Forest Development and Management — £24,348,000 — accounts for the bulk of expenditure in the Forestry Vote. The major proportion of the expenditure relates to wages. The increase, viz. £1,072,300, over the 1981 provision, is accounted for by wage increases, higher cost of machinery and materials, and increased cost of repair and maintenance of the forest machinery fleet. The national forest estate now embraces 377,000 hectares (930,000 acres) of land, of which 304,000 hectares (751,000 acres) have been planted. The activities covered by the subhead include the production of nursery stock; the establishment, maintenance and protection of State plantations; the provision of public recreation facilities; the purchase, maintenance and hire of machinery; the construction of forest roads; and the whole field of timber harvesting and conversion.
The level of activity being provided for is roughly comparable with last year's performance. I would like, however to make particular comment on some aspects falling under Subhead C.2. As regards employment, the Forestry workforce now represents about 2,700 men — usually in areas where alternative employment prospects are poor.
As regards the planting programme, the overall objective of the State afforestation programme is 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) per year but it has not been possible to attain this target in recent years — due largely to difficulties in the land acquisition sector and the unsatisfactory position of the land reserve which I have already mentioned. As a result, the area planted annually has been of the order of 7,000 hectares (17,500 acres) and it is expected that the current year's planting programme will be at about a similar level. The Government are currently reviewing the situation in regard to the State planting programme with a view to settling policy for the years immediately ahead. The stage is now being reached in Irish forestry where past investment is beginning to show a significant return. With emphasis on timber harvesting now becoming more pronounced, the provision of adequate funds for forest roads and harvesting machinery assumes paramount importance. It is intended to maintain the construction programme for new roads at last year's expanded level, and the repair and reconstruction of existing forest roads damaged by heavy extraction vehicles during last winter's bad weather will also be priority items. While the updating and replacement of some of the fleet used by the Forest and Wildlife Service is an ongoing business, only the most essential of the used machines are being replaced this year but some funds may be allocated for the purchase of additional specialised timber harvesting equipment with a view to fulfilling commitments to the various elements of the timber industry.
The medium density fibreboard mill at Clonmel which is being built by the Medford Corporation of Oregon, USA, is now well advanced and production is expected to begin by summer 1983. When at full production this plant will employ 200 workers in the factory and a further 250 in timber harvesting.
Some funds are also provided for the development of forest parks and the provision of general amenity and recreational facilities in State forests. The largest element of the expenditure is in respect of labour employed in the maintenance of existing parks and amenities and tends to increase annually in line with labour and other costs. The "Open Forest" policy, under which the public are encouraged to use State forests for recreational purposes, is now in operation for over ten years. During that time eight forest parks have been created and three more are in course of development. In addition, at some 400 forest locations, parking, picnicking, forest walks and other amenity facilities have been provided. The demand for recreational use of forests continues to grow and the number of visitors remains very high but in the current financial situation some slow down in the rate of new developments is inevitable.
The final part of subhead C.2 relates to timber conversion and includes provision for the employment of harvesting contractors to supplement the Department's direct timber harvesting and harvesting operations by customers who purchase standing timber. This traditional pattern of contract harvesting provides a worthwhile service industry for the wood-processing and sawmilling sectors.
The purpose of subhead C.4 is to provide a measure of grant assistance to Chipboard Products Limited at Scarriff, County Clare. The House will recall that in 1980 a sum of £400,000 was provided to enable the receiver at Chipboard Limited (in Receivership) to continue operations for a limited period while proposals for restructuring the company were being considered. This restructuring took place last year when a new company, Chipboard Products Limited, in which the State holds some 64 per cent of the equity, was formed. In this context details of the agreements entered into with a private consortium were given to the House by one of my predecessors when he introduced the 1981 main and Supplementary Estimates for Forestry on 26 March 1981 and are recorded in the Dáil Report, Vol. 328, Columns 26-264. The new company have been in operation since May 1981 and the grant assistance of £919,000 now proposed is intended partly for capital development purposes and partly to meet the cost of subventing timber harvesting operations in accordance with the terms of the restructuring arrangements. However, I should say that the company are continuing to feel the effects of severe competition from imported chipboard and the situation generally is being kept under review.
The provision of grants for private planting in subhead D shows an increase of £375,000 over last year, largely explained by the necessity to provide funds for the forestry element of the EEC western package which came into operation on 15 April, 1981. This scheme, in which the emphasis is on private forestry, envisages the afforestation in the west of Ireland, over a period of ten years, of 24,000 hectares of land which is marginal for agriculture but suitable for forestry. The total expenditure under the scheme for the ten-year period is £18 million, which is to be shared equally between the EEC (FEOGA) and the Irish Government. Grants are available up to a maximum of approximately £800 per hectare and a free technical advisory service on all aspects of the forestry operation will be provided by my Department.
I need hardly stress that the planting of trees is an activity which is very beneficial from the national standpoint. I would hope that, despite a somewhat slow start, there will be a more enthusiastic response to the western package scheme from owners of suitable land in western areas and that it will, as time passes, lead to a significant increase in the level of private forestry in this country. The traditional private planting grants scheme will, of course, continue to operate as heretofore in the rest of the country.
The modest increase in subhead G this year is due entirely to increases in remuneration of wildlife rangers. Forty-nine rangers are now employed by the Forest and Wildlife Service and, while their duties extend to enforcement of all aspects of the Wildlife Act, their primary preoccupation is with hunting and poaching offences and illegal trade in wildlife species.
Subhead G also includes provision for grants to regional game councils to assist local schemes of game development and also a small measure of assistance towards the development of game shooting facilities for visiting sportsmen.
Subhead H provides funds for wildlife conservation. The programme of work in that field is proceeding reasonably well despite the inevitable effects of present financial constraints on some activities. The two major elements of the 1982 programmes are wildlife research and habitat protection. A variety of research projects is being carried out. The results of a recent survey on the peregrine falcon, undertaken with the welcome assistance of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, should be available later this year.
I am happy to report a measure of progress in the establishment of statutory nature reserves. Eight such reserves have already been established and I expect that number to increase to at least a dozen during the current year. It is particularly pleasing to be able to report the fairly recent completion of the purchase of the largest and key area of Pollardstown Fen in County Kildare.
I would not like to let this occasion pass without paying a well deserved tribute to the work of the Wildlife Advisory Council whose critical analysis of, and advice on, a wide variety of wildlife conservation topics is greatly valued by me.
I have already mentioned enforcement of the Wildlife Act, and the role of wildlife rangers. Over the past five years, upwards of 270 successful prosecutions have been taken under the Act. However, it is vitally important that the role of the wildlife rangers be complemented and supported by the promotion of public education and knowledge of wildlife matters. The Forest and Wildlife Service already have a wide range of wildlife literature which is distributed free on request and it is hoped to produce some further publications of interest, especially to school children, during the year.
Participation by the Forest and Wildlife Service in international conservation activities is achieved through active involvement in organisations such as the EEC and the Council of Europe, and, where appropriate, in their work in the sphere of international conventions and regulations relating to the protection of wildlife, especially migratory species.
Subhead I provides mainly for a number of programmes undertaken for my Department by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. These are concerned with the promotion of the use of home grown timber and the advancement of timber technology research. The proposed increase in the subhead reflects the fact that only a token sum was provided for this purpose last year. This gave rise to some criticism and following a review of the situation in the meantime, it was decided to reactivate some of the institute's work of promoting the increased use of native timber, particularly in the construction sector. The other major element in subhead I is the provision of funds towards the activities of the Wildlife Advisory Council, to which I have already referred.
In subhead J, appropriations in aid, the main element of the forecast of income accruing to the Forest and Wildlife Service during the year relates to timber sales. The present market situation is such that the immediate opportunities for increasing revenue from timber sales are limited and subhead J inevitably reflects this temporarily unsatisfactory situation.
The domestic market for pulpwood is still depressed and some temporary measures, including sale of raw material for export, must still be tolerated in order to generate income, maintain employment and ensure continuity of trained harvesting personnel. However, maintenance of the existing outlet at the restructured Scarriff mill, assuming its current difficulties are temporary, and the operations of the new fibreboard industry at Clonmel will provide a sound basis in the years ahead for the development of a steady market for smaller produce.
Sawlog prices are governed by the level of activity in the building industry as well as by competitive imports and have fallen steadily in the last year. However, in anticipation of an upturn in the market, I hope that projected income will be realised, perhaps through bigger sales volumes, albeit at more moderate prices.
Looking at the situation in the longer term I believe that current problems in the timber sales sector are temporary. It is accepted that wood will continue to be a scarce resource, not only in the European Economic Community but worldwide; and I am quite confident that, as the present general recession eases, the policy of maintaining production of such a versatile renewable resource will be fully vindicated.
I have now dealt with the Estimates for Fisheries and Forestry in some detail and I commend both Estimates to the House for approval.
