asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the extent of the area thinned in each of the years 1953-54, 1954-55 and 1955-56, and if he will give estimates of the volume and weight of timber (a) felled and (b) sold, and the total receipts from sales of thinning during each of these years.

In the three years quoted, the areas thinned were:—

The volumes of material felled in the course of thinning were:—

Weight figures can only be estimated by reference to volume statistics.

The figures in respect of acreage thinned and volume produced in 1955-56 are provisional.

The Department does not distinguish between the sales of produce derived from thinning and sales of other produce. In answer to a separate question, I have given the Deputy the total receipts from sales of timber of all descriptions from State forests.

Can the Minister state whether he considers the sales from these areas to be satisfactory or can he say whether there is any accumulation of timber being piled up?

As a matter of fact, the emphasis is to push sales for very obvious reasons.