asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the expenditure on access roads and other infrastructural developments in State forests for 1986; the works which will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Repair of Forest Roads.
76.
A sum of £4.5 million approximately has been allocated in the Vote for Forestry for the construction, up-grading and repair of forest roads in the current year. It is expected that approximately 140kms. of new roads will be constructed and about 30kms. of existing roads up-graded to cater for the increasing volume of timber extraction traffic. On-going minor repairs will also be effected, as required, to the existing network of approximately 6,650kms. of roads at the various forest centres throughout the country.
The provision of a suitable road system constitutes part of the on-going forestry operations of the forest and wildlife service of my Department. The programme involves firstly the provision of the necessary roading to facilitate the management of newly planted areas in their formative years, secondly the provision of access roads for harvesting and extraction of timber from plantations and thirdly maintaining and up-grading forest roads as required until all thinning cycles have been completed and the crops clearfelled. All roads are designed to carry the maximum load consistent with the conditions obtaining in the relevant sites.