Dáil Éireann - Volume 323 - 21 October, 1980 - Written Answers .


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Dáil Éireann - Volume 323 - 21 October, 1980

Written Answers . - Forest Fires .

Mr. Creed Mr. Creed

424.Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (a) the number of acres of forestry lost in fires in each of the last three years, (b) the estimated cost og this damage, and (c) the facilities available to fight these fires.

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. Power) Patrick Power

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. Power): The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

	(a)	(b)	(c)
Year	Forest area damaged by fire	Estimated cost of damage	Fire fighting facilities available
	(acres)	£
1977	3,084	137,176	In addition to services made available by local fire fighting units and Army personnel, facilities are provided by the Forest and Wildlife Service which include—stocks of fire beaters, heater burners, smoke masks, portable water pumps; the provision of a water supply from natural and specially constructed artificial sources; the services of a forest staff trained in forest fire fighting.
1978	939	42,157
1979	497	30,084

Mr. Creed Mr. Creed

319

425. Mr. Creed: asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will have experts from his Department examine the use of fire fighting aircraft, particularly amphibious aircraft, in Canada and France; if he considers this type of aircraft [319] a useful means of fighting outbreaks of forest fires; if not, why; and if he will recommend the acquisiton of such aircraft to the Minister for Defence for operation by the Air Corps.

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. Power) Patrick Power

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (Mr. Power): The question of using aircraft of the type referred to for the purpose of fighting forest fires was examined in my Department but was not considered appropriate, having regard to such factory as the general forestry situation, Ireland's climatic conditions and alternative fire control measures available. In the circumstances. I would not be disposed to recommed the acquisition of such aircraft.

Dáil Éireann 323 Written Answers . Forest Fires .

Questions

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