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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1981

Vol. 327 No. 12

Written Answers. - Forest Fires.

351.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the estimated value of all timber lost in forest fires for each of the past five years.

The estimated cost of damage to State plantations through forest fires in each of the years referred to is as follows:—

Year

Amount

£

1976

55,578

1977

137,176

1978

42,157

1979

30,084

1980

212,735

The cost relates primarily to trees but includes a small proportion in respect of damage to fencing.

352.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if adequate facilities have been made available for the prevention of forest fires from within his Department; if he is satisfied (1) that adequate fire breaks are provided by his Department in the planting of plantations in the event of fire outbreaks and (2) with a situation where neither adequate reservoirs nor pumping stations are provided by his Department in large plantations that would facilitate excessive destruction in the case of fire outbreaks; and if he has any proposals to provide a forest fire prevention/fighting service from within his Department.

I am satisfied that all reasonable precautions are taken by the Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department to prevent and control forest fires. Fire breaks—external and internal—are a standard feature of forest development.

Additional facilities include stocks of fire beaters, heather burners, smoke masks and portable water pumps. The Service is increasingly providing water supplies from natural and specially constructed artificial sources. In addition trained forestry staff are available and the service has liaison arrangements with local fire fighting units as well as the Defence Forces and Garda Síochána.

The situation in relation to forest fire control is kept under regular review. It is important, however, to bear in mind that the cost of providing forest fire fighting facilities must be weighed against the element of risk involved. Excessive expenditure on fire precautions would not be justifiable.

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