Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 35:

In page 31, line 31, after “matters” to insert “including the development of third and fourth level education in forestry”.

This section of the Bill states:

When making regulations under subsection (2)the Minister shall have regard to the following: (...)(f) promoting education and training in forestry and related matters".

The College of Science, which later became UCD, had the first department of forestry, founded in 1913. As of today, according to the UCD website, there are only six staff, one of whom is part-time. This is a business that supports 12,000 jobs, and we mentioned the last day that Kinnitty, Avondale and Shelton Abbey have shut down. In the Wikipedia guide to forestry education in Europe, it is stated that 28 countries, from Albania to Romania, have scores of universities providing courses in forestry. Somebody did not fill in the form, as Ireland is not listed. We need to build up departments which appear to have been run down. This is going to be a major dynamic sector of the Irish economy in relation to forestry and the environment, and, as the Minister of State has said, from the point of view of visual amenity and so on. There is a special need to develop degree programmes. There are some in Waterford and Limerick as well as UCD, but it looks like an area of education where we have taken our eye off the ball. The purpose of the amendment is to draw attention to the need to build up third and fourth level education in forestry.