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Dáil Éireann - Volume 326 - 05 February, 1981 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forest Thinnings. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy 14. Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the up-to-date position regarding the utilisation of forest thinnings; the amounts exported in 1980; and the plans, if any, to process these in this country. Mr. Power Mr. Power 1201 Mr. Power: The closure of some processing mills which utilised pulpwood has caused a temporary surplus in the availability of thinnings from State forests. In the interests of maintaining employment and developing expertise in the harvesting [1201] sector some thinnings have been made available for export. It is understood that 24,000 metric tonnes were exported in 1980. This is a temporary measure and my Department in co-operation with the Industrial Development Authority have been in contact with a number of processors with a view to the establishment of a mill here which, together with existing users of thinnings, would utilise the entire production of our forests at home. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy: At what price per tonne is the timber being sold at? Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: The price we are getting is something in the region of £1 per tonne. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy: How can the Minister justify that? Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: We have 300,000 or 400,000 tonnes of that available to anyone who needs it here. We exported 24,000 tonnes so there is plenty left for anyone who wants it. If a person gets in touch with us or with the local forester and is prepared to cut it there is no difficulty in meeting any home requirements. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy: Surely it would be more beneficial to the citizens if that timber were sold as fuel rather than being given away for £1 a tonne. It is criminal. An Ceann Comhairle Padraig Faulkner An Ceann Comhairle: A question. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy: What alternatives are being set up? Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: Nobody was worried about this timber when it had to be felled and had to go to waste when we had 300,000 and 400,000 tonnes available per year. When we exported a small quantity everyone woke up to the value of it. It is still there. My Department utilise their resources to cut it and sell it at £22 a tonne, cut up in blocks at the roadside but if anyone wishes to take it and thin it according to the requirements of the forester it is available to him at the same price that it is available to others. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy 1202 [1202] Mr. Deasy: I wish that were made generally known because I know of instances where people have had considerable difficulty in getting timber from foresters. Is the Minister aware that the reason for the surplus is because plants in Athy and the Munster Chipboard in Waterford have closed down during the term of office of this Government? That is why we are exporting it for £1 a tonne. What measures are being introduced to provide alternative processing industries? Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: The Government are substantially grant-aiding the last processing firm that we have and in the course of a few months or less we will have very good news with regard to this. Mr. White Mr. White Mr. White: The Minister must be aware that the main problem is that all the processing plants have closed down, except the one he mentioned now, which is in financial difficulties. Surely the first priority must be to get new processing plants into the country? The Minister's predecessor promised two years ago that there would be one in operation eighteen months ago. This is the main problem. An Ceann Comhairle Padraig Faulkner An Ceann Comhairle: This is a statement. We will never get through Questions this way. Mr. White Mr. White Mr. White: Timber is being sold at £1 per ton regardless of who gets it. Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: I am aware of this. I did not come into Question Time to be aware of it. I visited the United States and two firms there in the fall of last year. One of those firms is actively involved with the IDA. Mr. Crotty Mr. Crotty Mr. Crotty: Were plans formulated in the Minister's Department, when the forests were created, to deal with thinnings? What were those plans? Mr. Power Mr. Power 1203 Mr. Power: I presume the plans were formulated at a time when we had four factories processing timber here, but because of changes in the world market [1203] and changing trends three of those closed down. They were adequate to meet our needs. Now, because in the last two years we have had difficulty in disposing of thinnings, we have made contingency plans which will be processed within two years. An Ceann Comhairle Padraig Faulkner An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 15 has been postponed. Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy Mr. Deasy: Would it not be better to give the timber away to the poor rather than sell it abroad? An Ceann Comhairle Padraig Faulkner An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair is being totally ignored at Question Time. I am calling Question No. 16. (Interruptions). Dáil Éireann 326 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Forest Thinnings. Questions 19810205
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