Vol. 420 No. 9
44 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Energy if he will give the up-to-date figures for the production of indigenous raw timber for each of the years 1989, 1990 and 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In 1989, 1.5 million cubic metres of timber was produced by Coillte Teoranta. The corresponding figures for 1990 and 1991 were 1.44 million and 1.54 million respectively. Equivalent data on timber production by the private sector is not available but it would be considered negligible.
Timber production is projected to rise steadily each year to the end of the century. The Programme for Economic and Social Progress sets a production target of 3 million cubic metres to be achieved by the year 2000. I am satisfied that it will prove possible to achieve this ambitious target.
