asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the average cost of harvesting and transporting one tonne of forest thinnings in 1982; and the average price fetched for each tonne sold.
Written Answers. - Forest Thinnings.
396.
Presumably the Deputy has in mind early thinnings (pulpwood) for processing. The harvesting and transport of such thinnings from State forests are largely carried out by the purchasers of the standing timber on their sub-contractors. Inquiries made of some of the principal purchasers indicate that, in 1982, harvesting costs ranged on average from £8 to £10 per tonne and transport costs were of the order of £4 to £6 per tonne, depending on site conditions and haulage distance, respectively. Because of the variety of sales involved a precise price per tonne for thinnings sold standing is not readily available but it would range from £1 to £3.50, with an estimated average of £1.50 per tonne overall.