I move:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £101,788 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1938, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí i dtaobh Foraoiseachta (9 agus 10 Geo. 5, c. 58; agus Uimh. 34 de 1928), maraon le Deontas-i-gCabhair chun Tailimh do Thógaint.
That a sum not exceeding £101,788 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for Salaries and Expenses in connection with Forestry (9 and 10 Geo. 5, c. 58; and No. 34 of 1928), including a Grant-in-Aid for Acquisition of Land.
The total net Vote proposed for the current year is £152,788, which is practically the same as last year, small reductions having been made under a few sub-heads. The work of State afforestation is progressing satisfactorily and it is intended to increase the area planted each year until the maximum rate of planting is reached. The final figures are not yet available for the season now closing, but it is anticipated that about 7,200 acres will be planted as against 6,919 acres planted during 1935-36. It was hoped to plant at least 8,000 acres, if not 10,000 acres, during the past season, but a number of reasons, principally a general shortage in some species of trees and a lack of sufficient ground of a suitable type for the plants available caused the programme in contemplation to be curtailed. The definite aim is to be in a position to plant 10,000 acres annually as soon as practicable, and the State nurseries have been enlarged with a view to meeting the needs of a programme of this extent. The increase in the area planted each year must also be met by an accelerated rate of acquisition of land for planting, and though over 109,000 acres have already been acquired for State forestry purposes, of which close on 10,000 acres were acquired during the past year, it is felt that a much larger area must be acquired each year if a satisfactory annual planting programme is to be maintained. The total area of the new plantations formed by the State is now approximately 55,000 acres, the balance of the 109,000 acres comprising old woodlands in existence at the time of acquisition, scrub land not yet cleared for planting, bare land ready for planting, unplantable lands and a number of small areas let in grazing, turbary, etc.
Thirteen forest centres were established during the past year, namely, at Borris, County Carlow; at Castlesaunderson, near Belturbet, County Cavan; at Virginia, County Cavan; at Cratloe, County Clare; at Killakee, County Dublin; at Castlegrove, near Tuam, County Galway; in County Kildare at Rahin, near Edenderry, at Donadea, at Clonaslea, Leix, County Kildare; at Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny; at Mullinavat, near Piltown, County Kilkenny; at Templederry, County Tipperary, and at Drumsna, County Leitrim.
The total number of forest centres in the Saorstát is now 81, nearly double the number of centres in existence four or five years ago. There are centres now in every county in the Saorstát except Counties Meath and Sligo, and it is hoped that it will be possible to establish centres in these counties also during the coming year. New centres will continue to be established where practicable, but it should be noted that an expansion in this direction carries with it a difficulty as regards expansion in planting operations. If lands are acquired and can be attached to an existing centre and worked in conjunction with it, larger planting programmes can generally be carried out, as there is on the spot a forester with his staff of workers who have acquired training by experience. At new centres a staff must be trained, and this takes some time. Moreover it is not always possible to assign at once a supervising officer to a new centre, as the staff of foremen and foresters is not yet sufficiently large for all the increasing demands upon it. The training of men for supervisory posts in the forestry service takes time. The majority of these men must be trained by the State, and this is being done satisfactorily at the forestry school at Avondale, County Wicklow. The period of training is three years, and, therefore, it is obvious that the building up of an adequate staff cannot be accomplished without some delay. Notwithstanding these difficulties, it is intended to create new centres where possible, and particularly to extend forestry operations in the West and South.
The possibility of starting forestry operations in the Gaeltacht has received much attention, and very con siderable areas have been inspected for the purpose, but unfortunately the lands obtainable have had to be rejected as unsuitable either owing to exposure or to poor soil conditions, or to a combination of both reasons, and so far the search in the Gaeltacht for suitable lands of sufficient extent has only been partially successful. It is hoped, however, to start shortly at Coomroe, beside Gougane Barra, in the Ballingeary district, County Cork, as an agreement has now been reached after protracted negotiations with the owners of some land offered for sale there, and eventually a large forest centre should be established in the district, if other lands which have been inspected can also be acquired. In County Mayo, in the Tourmakeady district, there are possibilities, and an investigation is now being made in respect of the Leenane district of Counties Galway and Mayo. It is also proposed to experiment to a limited extent with lands near Newport, County Mayo, in order to ascertain the possibilities of successful afforestation, not only on those lands, but on lands of a similar type on the Western seaboard in which like conditions are to be found.
The main problem of the State, however, is to improve the timber resources of the country, and this must be done as quickly as circumstances will permit. This country has been denuded of trees to such an extent that we are by far the most deficient of all European countries in home supplies of timber. The policy of the State is to develop our timber resources to their maximum extent within a reasonable time. Meanwhile the State forest lands will be producing timber in the form of thinnings suitable for fencing, rustic work, gates, etc. and, as these will soon be available from our earlier plantations, and as the output will increase every year, it is important that a demand should be created for this material not only locally but all over the country. Apart from the improvement in our economic position, there will follow the added advantages of the utilisation of lands not required for other purposes, the beneficial results on our climatic conditions, the potential new industries that may arise and the provision of employment for a large number of forest workers during the winter season when agricultural work is at its lowest point. But, for a successful State policy of afforestation, continuity is essential and we must make up our minds definitely on this aspect of the matter if we are to reach the measure of success that has been attained in other countries.
The main sub-heads of the Vote are substantially the same as last year and do not call for particular comment.
Sub-head A. £13,115. Salaries, Wages and Allowances.—There is an increase of £1,396 under this sub-head. The expansion of forestry operations has called for increased staff and provision is made for some further increases.
Sub - head C (1). Acquisition of Land (Grant-in-Aid), £5,000.—There is an increase of £4,000 under this sub-head. The amounts voted under this sub-head, being by way of grant-in-aid, are not surrendered at the end of the financial year, and as there was an unexpended balance of £88,277 on 31st March last it is considered that this amount with an additional £5,000 will be sufficient to cover any acquisitions of land during the current year. During the past year 9,551 acres were acquired at an aggregate price of £39,037 of which £6,121 has still to be paid, and in addition there are commitments to purchase another 9,044 acres at an aggregate price of £21,365. The title of the vendors in these latter cases is at present being investigated and the sales will be complete when title has been proved. The total of these commitments is £27,486. Arrangements are being made with the Land Commission for the allotment for forestry purposes of about 6,000 acres at an aggregate purchase price of £14,000 so that actual commitments may be regarded as approximately £41,000. Negotiations are pending with private owners for the purchase of 10,500 acres, representing an aggregate price of £30,903, making a total of approximately £72,000 for actual and potential commitments.
Sub-head C (2). £136,688. Cultural Operations, Maintenance, etc.—There is a reduction of £5,873 under this sub-head. The Estimate last year was based on the planting of 10,000 acres during the year but, as explained, the programme had to be curtailed somewhat, and experience has shown that the amount now required will be sufficient to cover an 8,000-10,000 acre planting programme.
Provision is also made for further increases to the staff of foresters and foremen, as the work is still hampered by the lack of trained men. The Department has already tried to get suitable men from outside and the Civil Service Commissioners have held open competitions for the purpose, but a sufficient number of qualified candidates was not available. The Department must, therefore, wait until it has trained its own apprentices, and this is being done as rapidly as possible.
The amount required for seeds, seedlings and transplants has been reduced from £12,500 to £6,000 as the State nurseries have been more than doubled in area during the past three years, and they should produce, to a greater extent, all the seedlings and transplants required. Hitherto, it has been necessary to purchase from private growers large quantities to supplement the output of the State nurseries, but this year it is anticipated that a lesser quantity from outside will be necessary. The State nurseries have always been the main source of supply, and for many reasons it is desirable that this should be so to a still greater extent. In any case, last year it was not possible for the Department to obtain all its requirements either at home or in Great Britain or on the Continent. The purchases last season were, in round figures, 325,000 transplants and 515,000 seedlings from Saorstát nurserymen; 150,000 transplants and 345,000 seedlings from Great Britain, and 995,000 transplants and 475,000 seedlings from the Continent.
The quantity of seed purchased last year was approximately 10,624 lb., the sources of supply being—Austria (2,330 lb.), Germany (52 lb.), Holland (3,000 lb.), Denmark (3,675 lb.), Scotland (950 lb.), Canada (297 lb.) and the United States (320 lb.). A small quantity of seed is extracted at home.
The number of men employed during March this year, which is the month for maximum employment of forestry workers, was about 1,900. A greater number would have been employed but for the abnormally bad weather conditions which interrupted work at a number of forests.
Sub-head D (1). £600. Grants and Advances for Afforestation Purposes. —The amount required under this sub-head is the same as last year. This scheme of free grants to private owners of land undertaking planting work continues to be availed of, but it is a matter for regret that greater use is not made of it as the procedure is very simple. All that is necessary is for the owner of the land to inform the Department that he desires to plant an area of not less than 5 acres, and the Department will then arrange for the land to be inspected to ascertain if it is suitable and will advise what species of trees should be planted. The owner will then be informed that he can proceed with his planting work, and the Department, on being advised that he has completed it, will inspect the work done. If satisfied that the work has been properly done and the necessary fencing erected, the Department will then pay the first instalment of £3 per acre and, after five years, the remaining £1 per acre, provided the plantation has been satisfactorily maintained in the meanwhile. A number of owners can join to make up the minimum five acres, provided that the whole area is in a compact block and that each applicant plants not less than one acre. The number of applicants for grants during the past year was only 16.
Sub-head D (2). £400. Arbor Day. —The amount asked for under this sub-head is £200 less than last year, as the schools show apparently a slackening of interest in the scheme. In 1935, the first year of the scheme, over 1,500 schools participated; in 1936 close on 900 participated, but last year only 641 schools took part in it. Under the scheme free trees are supplied to schools for Arbor Day, so that there does not appear to be any reason why a greater interest should not be manifested. It is possible, of course, that a considerable number of schools have either no suitable ground for planting or have already exhausted any available ground in the previous Arbor Days. The scheme is purely educational, the purpose being to stimulate interest among young people in the care and preservation of trees and in the appreciation of their beauty and value. So long as a considerable number of schools are prepared to associate themselves with Arbor Day, it is felt that the maintenance of the scheme is justified. The number of schools, apart from the Gaeltacht, that took part last year by provinces were: Munster, 234; Connacht, 184; Leinster, 148; and 45 schools in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan. The remaining 30 schools were in the Gaeltacht.
Sub-head R (1). £1,117. Forestry Education.—The Forestry School at Avondale is now functioning satisfactorily. A junior forestry inspector who acts as superintendent and instructor was appointed during the past year, and he has now in charge 21 resident trainees. Altogether the Department have now 34 trainees—12 third year, 12 second year, and nine first year, and one trainee who has completed his training but has not yet been appointed a foreman.
Sub-head H. £9,150. Appropriations-in-Aid.—The estimated income to be obtained from all sources is shown under this sub-head, and a considerable increase is anticipated this year principally from sales of round timber.
Forestry Act, 1928.—The provisions of the Forestry Act, 1928, which require the lodgment of felling notices in respect of any trees proposed to be cut is working smoothly, though some prosecutions have still to be undertaken for breaches of the Act, generally resulting in the offenders being fined. The number of felling notices lodged last year was 2,514, as against 2,750 in the previous year. The lodgment of these notices enables the Department to control tree-felling effectively, and prohibition orders are issued where necessary, and licences to fell are given only in respect of those trees which it is considered, after an inspection, the owner should be permitted to fell.