asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if greater use of native grown timber has been achieved for its use as transmission lines and the plans he has to reduce foreign imports for such purposes.
Written Answers. - Native Grown Timber.
429.
Cavan-Monaghan): The maximum possible use is being made of home-grown timber for transmission poles. Both the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the ESB continue to take all available supplies of non-spruce species. However, such supplies are limited, but research to date on the treatment with preservatives of spruce species for use as transmission poles has been quite successful and has resulted in the two agencies mentioned placing orders for spruce poles on a trial basis.
Research is continuing with a view to establishing comparative production costs for treated spruce poles and traditional non-spruce poles. This will help to determine the potential for increased use of spruce and resultant higher degree of import substitution.