Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this item and the Minister of State for his presence at this debate. When we look at the Estimates for the coming year, we see that the Minister of State has reduced the forestry allocation by 22%. In the short period he has been in the job he has effectively wrecked the ten year plan that was in place for growing for the future, implemented, oddly enough, by a fellow countyman of the Minister of State, former Minister Ivan Yates. Mr. Yates was followed very successfully by another countyman of the Minister of State, the previous Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, during the lifetime of the last Government. I call on the Minister of State to reverse this decision.

The irony is that I cannot see where any saving will be made. Half of the €11 million allocation would be directly returned from Europe to the Government. In addition, many people employed in the industry face the loss of their jobs. Around 17,000 people cannot be guaranteed the contractual work they are accustomed to from February and many others who service the industry will lose out. On the border between County Clare and County Galway, between 50 and 60 people will lose their jobs in February. Coillte, now a minor player in forestry, and the seven private companies also face serious job losses. The nurseries will see their three year plan destroyed by this decision unless the Minister reverses this cut.

This is economics gone wrong. The figures are plain to see. There will be a loss of premia coming from Europe. Farmers in marginal areas will have to reassess their work practices. Many of them had taken the land they intended to plant out of the REPS and extensification schemes and will find it difficult to re-enter it. In the five months since taking office, the Minister has ruined a ten year plan. He must make the decision if he is to safeguard jobs in areas where alternative employment is almost impossible to find. The experience of those who will be made redundant cannot be replaced once it is lost. Once they are displaced they will find it difficult to return to work in the future and they will be replaced by younger, less experienced workers. If the Minister fails to give an undertaking to reverse the decision, he is taking a serious step towards the dismantling of any strategy for forestry.

Only 10% of the country is covered by forest and the ratio of private planting to State forestry is 3:1. Many land owners who have planned for forestry have lost out. I ask the Minister to return the 22% in the interests of the people who have shown commitment to the land, resources and the personnel involved.