asked the Minister for Lands the number of men employed at forestry work in County Wexford at the latest available date and at a similar date for 1960 and 1959.
Ceisteanna-Questions Oral Answers. - Employment in Wexford Forests.
17.
The total number of men in direct employment at the Co. Wexford forests at a recent date was 224. The corresponding figure for 1960 was 244 and for 1959 the figure was 269.
From those figures, does the Minister not think that there is a case for the acquisition of more land not only for the sake of forestry but also for the purpose of giving the employment that was there three years ago?
I could not agree more with the Deputy and would appeal to him for his local co-operation to see that we can get more land in the area.
Is it because more land is not available that there is a decrease in employment in forestry?
That appears to be the position from the facts before me.