asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (a) when a plant (details supplied) is to commence operation in Clonmel, County Tipperary; (b) the number of people to be employed; (c) the amount, type and nature of timber to be used in the plant and the effect this will have on the export of timber; and (d) the nature of the product to be produced.
Written Answers. - Clonmel Plant.
747.
The reply to the question is as follows: (a) It is understood that operations will commence within the next few months; (b) Employment projections at full production envisage up to 200 in the mill and a further 250 in timber harvesting and haulage; (c) Initially, the plant will utilise some 200,000 m³ of pulpwood/sawmill residues per annum, increasing to 400,000 m³ at full production. It is anticipated that exports of such material will reduce more or less in line with intake by the mill; (d) The product, known as medium density fibreboard, is a reconstituted wood panel produced from wood reduced to fibre-type strands which are then recombined, formed into mats and pressed. It is a quality board used principally in the manufacture of furniture.