asked the Minister for Energy the plans the Government have to increase the planting rate for State forests; if he intends to establish a semi-State body to take responsibility for State forests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation Programme.
8.
asked the Minister for Energy the plans, if any, he has to develop down-stream industries to ensure maximisation of the benefits of the afforestation programme.
14.
asked the Minister for Energy when he proposes to implement the review group recommendations for the establishment of a national forest enterprise agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17.
asked the Minister for Energy if he will set up a new commercial body to manage the affairs of the Forestry and Wildlife Service; and if so, when.
36.
asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline his views on which State or other body with which the development of forestry in this country should be entrusted.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 13, 14, 17 and 36 together.
I propose to increase State planting in 1987 by 1,000 hectares to 8,000 hectares. This together with the expected private sector planting of 3,000 hectares will give a national planting figure of 11,000 hectares — a target never previously achieved.
The Government see forestry as an area which offers considerable scope for expansion and employment, both direct and indirect and to enable it to achieve this it is my intention to promote the establishment of a commercial structure outside of the Civil Service.
I am at present examining various options in this regard.
Would the Minister agree that the reduction in the number of forestry workers, the running down of forest wildlife nurseries, the underutilisation of forest and wildlife machinery and the general decline in the motivation of staff at all levels, could make it impossible to meet what the Minister has set as the target of 8,000 hectares per annum?
The information available to me in my Department is that this target is achievable, that the morale of the staff is not as the Deputy indicated and that far from looking on any difficulties that might arise, we will approach it in a very positive way.
Would the Minister agree that we have the lowest area under forestry in Europe and that it is necessary to increase substantially our planting rate so that we can meet our needs in the future? Would the Minister agree also that a couple of thousand jobs could be created in felling and land preparation tomorrow and will he state whether the policy of planting 10,000 hectares of new forests per year will be reaffirmed and implemented?
I have no difficulty in reaffirming that the target for this year will be the highest ever approached. In relation to the employment question, there has been a fairly considerable increase in recent times particularly in the number of temporary workers taken on by the Department in order to enhance the possibility that that target will be reached. In relation to the question of the overall organisation of that, we will be bringing forward proposals very soon.
I am quite surprised and alarmed to hear the Minister say that morale is high among forestry workers. Surely the Minister is aware that in certain areas a lot of valuable research which has been done to date is now going to waste because of under staffing in the numbers of foresters and forestry workers and because the financial restrictions are such that not even the travelling necessary to ensure the development of the forestry can be undertaken. Is the Minister in a position to assure the House that the programme he has underlined today can be carried out given the number of staff, or to say if there will be a requirement for additional staff in the forestry area?
I have already indicated that over 200 temporary workers have been taken on this year to ensure this target is met. I am not saying there are not some difficulties in relation to manpower in certain sectors, but one of the reasons the Government decided to concur with the Coalition Government in relation to the sale of immature forests was to bring in additional finance to push ahead with these particular schemes.
I welcome the Minister's assurance that he proposes to set up a commercial body to promote forestry such as that recommended in the review body report, but I seek his assurance that he is disposed to give whatever body, commercial agency, or commission are set up a degree of flexibility and commercial freedom to do their work properly. Taking into consideration the abysmally low acreage of 6 per cent is he prepared to put a definite timescale on this proposal?
The Deputy need have no fears. The new organisation will have flexibility and independence to function in a way which will benefit this industry for the future and he has my assurance that the Government will do what is necessary to ensure that this is so. It will obviously take some months to tailor the legislation and bring it to both Houses, but some of the decisions may have to be taken in advance of that legislation to accelerate the programme.
I am very pleased the Minister accepted the necessity for our forests to be run on a commercial basis but, instead of setting up a new body, would he not consider utilising an existing semi-State structure, such as Bord na Móna who are expert in running our bogs, and our forestry industry could be run along the same lines? Would the Minister seriously consider having the powers of Bord na Móna extended and the necessary legislation brought in to have Bord na Móna and forestry run jointly?
I want to assure the Deputy that I am not a recent convert to the need for developing a forestry programme. As regards the linkage with Bord na Móna, as I said in my reply, all the options are being considered. It is interesting that Deputy Enright's colleague, Deputy Higgins, referred to an independent body and maybe when there is agreement on the opposite benches we can talk more about this.
Question No. 9.
The responsibility lies with the Minister. Statements have been made by the Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party ——
Ceist.
—— and the former spokesman on Energy, and I ask the Minister to consider what these people have said because they concur with much of what I have been saying.
All the options will be carefully considered in order to achieve the best possible results for this country in the development of afforestation.