asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will give a comprehensive report on the activities of his Department in County Limerick for the current year.
Written Answers. - Fisheries/Forestry Limerick Activities.
613.
In so far as the Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department is concerned, activities in the current year centre largely around the development and maintenance of the seven State forests in the county with a total area of about 10,000 hectares of which some 9,500 hectares are planted.
These activities, which involve, inter alia, some new land acquisitions and planting and forest road development, provide employment for 70 workmen. It is expected that harvesting of forest produce (in the form of thinnings and clear-felling) this year will make available a total of approximately 10,000 m3 of timber for processing by various industrial firms inside and outside the county.
The possibility of releasing turbary on State forest properties for turf production is under consideration.
Operation of the "Open Forest" policy and, in particular, the management of the forest park at Currahchase (Adare Forest) is being continued in the interests of providing facilities for public recreation and enjoyment.
Private forestry, including planting under the EEC western package scheme (in so far as the scheme relates to County Limerick) is being encouraged.
As regards the fisheries side of the Department, the fisheries in County Limerick benefit from the on-going work of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board whose headquarters is located in Limerick.