Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Jun 1983

Vol. 344 No. 1

Written Answers. - Forestry Statistics.

623.

Mr. Taylor

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will furnish the following information in relation to forest activities and employment in County Wicklow (1) the number of forest workers employed at each forest centre; (2) the area of standing timber at each centre (including recent plantations); (3) the amount of standing timber extracted in 1982 (with separate figures for 1983 to date); (4) the number of man weeks of contract employment in the extraction of timber in (3); (5) the number of contractors involved in (3); and (6) the measures taken to safeguard revenue and the Social Insurance Fund in relation to (4) and (5).

624.

Mr. Taylor

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (1) the number and description of machinery suitable for the extraction of standing timber; (2) the number of forest workers, and; (3) the number of forest machine drivers employed in the extraction of timber in forests in (a) Wicklow, (b) Tipperary and (c) Clare.

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. O'Toole)

I propose to take questions Nos. 623 and 624 together.

As some of the detailed information sought is not readily available at headquarters, inquiries at a number of forest locations are necessary. In the circumstances, I regret that it has not been possible in the limited time available to compile the precise particulars requested but the material is being assembled for communication direct to the Deputy as quickly as possible.