asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the estimated loss of revenue to the State from the sale of forest thinnings to Munster Chipboard Ltd., Waterford, and Irish Board Mills, Athy, Kildare, since the closure of these factories; and if it is intended to introduce a Supplementary Estimate to compensate for these losses.

The decrease in revenue from sales of State forest thinnings arising from the closure of Irish Board Mills Ltd. and Munster Chipboard Ltd. was about £125,000 to date.

It is not yet known whether this will result in receipts for 1979 falling short of the original overall estimate or whether a Supplementary Estimate will be required to cover a shortfall in receipts.

20.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the percentage of State forests not being thinned to the required degree at present due to lack of capacity in the timber processing sector to absorb these thinnings.

Arising from the present lack of capacity in the timber processing sector to absorb pulpwood size thinnings from State forests the thinning programme for 1979 was reduced by 50 per cent.

There are tolerances in sylvicultural thinning practices inasmuch as thinnings do not necessarily have to be removed in any particular year. The position in relation to forest thinnings is being kept under review.

Would the Minister agree that this is a remarkably high figure?

It is very serious.

Would he agree that, as is being reported to me by foresters employed by the Department, whole forests are rotting because thinning is not taking place?

I appreciate fully the seriousness of this matter but it relates back to the question we have been discussing. We cannot afford to allow the chipboard factories, which are the main outlets for these thinnings, to disappear. An excellent deal was worked out with Cement-Roadstone and it would be tragic if that deal had to go by the board as a result of the action being taken by a small number of people.

Has the Minister abandoned his responsibility in the area of afforestation because of the difficulty with the factories?

I have not abandoned my responsibility but the two aspects are interrelated. The chipboard factories are the main outlets for thinnings from the forests. We made a very real attempt to rationalise the whole industry so that we would have available continuing outlets for the thinnings.

I accept what the Minister had said, but in his reply he indicated that the thinning programme was being reduced this year by 50 per cent.

This is because of the closure of the factories.

May we take this situation as meaning that the Minister is neglecting his responsibility because of the outlet difficulties?

The outlets must be in operation if we are to dispose of the thinnings.

Can the Minister not arrange for the thinnings to be taken away?

We may have to do that but I am hopeful that the more positive approach will work.

What can be more positive than thinning the forests?

The Deputy does not understand what I am saying.

I understand, but the Minister is not competent to deal with the situation. He is neglecting his responsibility. The situation is very serious so far as Donegal is concerned.

I have called the next question.