asked the Minister for Lands if he will state how it comes about that in spite of the fact that 17,500 acres of new forests are being planted this year, as against 15,000 acres last year, there has been a reduction of 210 in the number of men employed on forestry work this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment in Forestry.
The reduction is due to the extension of my Department's policy of selling thinnings standing, where that course is practicable. The felling and extracting by private contractors of thinnings currently being sold standing is estimated to be capable of providing full-time employment for at least 300 men.
Is that the explanation for the reduction in the number of men employed in forestry work this year?
It is.
Is that the whole story?
Of course there is a certain amount of road work being done by contract now. The system of having roads done by contract has been growing up for the past four or five years but that is only a small proportion of the employment content. The principal reason arises from the extension of the policy of selling thinnings standing where it is practicable to do that. I should add that the reply I gave to the Deputy last week as to the number of men employed may be misleading. The number given in that reply was 4,730. For the current planting programme that number will be rising to about 5,190 in the middle of January. I gave that information because Deputies might not readily appreciate why it should be that with an increased planting programme the number of men employed is reduced. That is not so, because the number of men will increase to 5,190 after Christmas.
Will the Minister indicate why it is necessary to farm out the making of roads to contractors? Could not the work be done by the Department itself?
It could, at the expense of other more necessary work in the forest. In some cases it is more economic to farm out the work of road making. It gives the same amount of employment.