asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he has any proposals for the grant-aiding of timber processing in areas such as Cavan-Monaghan where there are substantial quantities of natural timber and very little processing capacity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Timber Processing.
22.
My Department do not grant-aid timber processing. Proposals for new timber processing developments are, in the ordinary way, a matter for the Industrial Development Authority who normally consult with my Department as to whether there are adequate supplies of timber available within the total national demand to accommodate a new proposal. At present the total national supply falls short of total demand. It is the mutual policy of my Department and of the IDA not to grant-aid additional processing capacity but to encourage proposals to up-grade and add value to existing processing facilities.
Does the Minister realise that the products of the State forests in County Cavan are being sent to County Fermanagh for processing? At the same time, scores of young people are leaving the area, particularly in west Cavan where the forests are situated as they cannot find employment. Will the Minister undertake to press the IDA to provide a processing factory in west Cavan for the products of our forests that are now maturing?
There are two saw mills in County Cavan with a joint annual capacity of about 15,000 cubic metres.
Where are they?
I do not have the exact location but they are in County Cavan. The county is not that big that the Deputy would not know it.
I know every place in it and I think that one of them has been closed down.
Supplies in County Cavan forests will be used by these mills and by others in adjoining counties. There is no surplus timber available for a new saw mill or for a pulp processing mill which would require considerably more timber than is available there at present. When a new pulp processing project is identified as feasible, the suitability of Cavan would, of course, be considered with other regions.
Will the Minister accept that Ballycassidy is being heavily supplied from the Cavan forests? Will he see to it that some effort is made so that the timber will be processed in County Cavan and thus give employment which is very badly needed at the moment?
I presume that is in County Fermanagh.
That is right.
I must say that the Deputy has a very parochial attitude towards it. It is cross-Border co-operation.
Is the Minister in the process of helping our citizens or does he want to help citizens of the Six Counties where factories are more heavily subsidised than are factories in the Cavan area?
As was already stated very clearly, if the capacity was there the IDA would help anybody who would start a processing industry. The capacity is not there at the moment. When the capacity is available in County Cavan, the IDA will not be found wanting.
Can I ask the Minister——
I am calling the Minister to answer Question No. 23.
I have just one supplementary question.
It had better be short. Deputy Cosgrave has been waiting for the last hour and has never opened his mouth. It would be fair to take his question.
Timber is being exported from Cahirciveen and is returned here in a processed form and that is disgraceful. In view of the Minister's statement he should clarify that position.
That is the subject of Question No. 30.