Vol. 473 No. 4
523 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself with the current level of employment in the forestry sector; and his views on whether new productive employment could be created in the establishment and maintenance of young plantations and that failure to do so is a false economy in the long-term. [1104/97]
There is great potential for employment in the forestry sector. Total employment in forestry — direct and indirect — in 1992 was estimated at about 16,000 and it is anticipated that over 11,000 jobs could be created in forestry from now to the year 2020, if the programme set out in the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector in Ireland is implemented. The number of jobs in the planting sector will increase with the planned increase in afforestation but the biggest increases will occur in harvesting and haulage, followed by the primary processing sector, as the existing forest estate reaches maturity. This employment will be of particular benefit to rural areas.
