Vol. 460 No. 6
37 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total value of timber imports into this country; if he will give a breakdown of these figures by type; and the estimated value of indigenous timber production. [1849/96]
The Central Statistics Office data indicates a total value of timber imports of £143.1 million in 1994, the latest year for which figures are available. These imports consist of three types of timber — sawnwood, panel boards and other industrial wood. The total value of sawnwood imports was £92.3 million; panel board imports £41.1 million and imports of other industrial wood £9.7 million.
In so far as indigenous timber production is concerned, this amounted to some two million cubic metres in each of the years 1994 and 1995, predominantly from Coillte Teoranta forests. The value of this level of production, when account is taken of its primary processing in both the sawmilling and panel board sectors, is estimated to total £150 million in both years.
