asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the number of men employed at Cong forest on 14th June last and the number now employed; (b) if men were left off recently; and, if so, the number of men so left off, the date of termination of employment, and the reasons for the disemployment.

The number of men employed at Cong forest and sawmill on June the 14th last was 54. The number employed on the 30th November was 49. Fourteen men were left off on the 14th November. A number of additional men were taken on temporarily during the summer and the present staff is now adequate for the winter programme.

Is the Minister aware that we have 2,000,000 cubic feet of mature timber in Cong? Does he not think it a shame to leave 14 men idle when we have that amount of mature timber?

As the Deputy knows, a more modern sawmill is to be erected in the place. Although there is a considerable amount of timber it is not mature enough in certain cases for such demands as there may be. I mean where large quantities are demanded for certain purposes by large concerns it happens that it is not mature enough, as was shown in a case recently, to enable us to take advantage of the offer. Besides, I would like to point out that, although there has been this decrease, it is entirely seasonal due to the fact that a comparatively large number of additional hands was taken over in the summertime and the numbers are greater than they were during the corresponding period of last year.

Is the Minister aware that we are only now filling orders that are in since last February, that we are ten months behind?

I cannot help that.

Sacking men will not help either.

Is it not correct to say that arising out of a similar question by Deputy Ormonde of Waterford a fortnight ago, the Minister said he had no function in the matter of when timber which reached maturity should be cut? Is he aware that there is drastic unemployment in the area?

I think the Deputy is confusing this with an entirely different matter.

The Minister stated in reply to a question that I had down yesterday that the orders now being fulfilled in Cong were placed as early as last February. Apart from the seasonal laying-off of men in this particular forest, would the Minister consider re-employing some of these men so as to overtake the arrears of orders at that sawmill because the Minister must be aware that the timber is not coming into the sawmills to keep the saws fully employed?

I will look into the matter but the position is that I am informed that this is the normal procedure, that extra hands have been taken on for a time and let off in this way. I am anxious to maintain maximum employment.

This is not a very good start for the new Undeveloped Areas Bill.