Pole imports and domestic supply
The Minister estimated that the ESB imported 16,000 poles and Posts and Telegraphs 139,000 in 1981, saying Irish douglas fir and larch supplies were insufficient for their needs. He attributed the increase over 1980 to higher demand, said domestic timber supplied two-thirds of the ESB’s poles and one-third of Posts and Telegraphs’ poles, and noted research into using spruce.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of poles imported by the ESB and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in 1981; and the reason for importing poles as adequate supplies of douglas fir and larch poles are available from our forests.
Comment on this
The statistics requested are not complied by my Department. However, I understand that the approximate number of poles imported by the ESB and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in 1981 was 16,000 and 139,000, respectively.
Maximum possible use is being made of non-spruce species of timber, such as douglas fit and larch, for transmission poles, but supplies from Irish forests are not adequate for the needs of the two bodies concerned. All available supplies of non-spruce species are provided for them annually but the balance of their requirements has to be met by imports.
Studies aimed at determining possibilities for import substitution through the use of spruce poles by the bodies concerned are continuing.
Comment on this
Can the Minister tell us the total number of poles used by the ESB and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, the percentage that are imported and the percentage home grown? Are they half and half or 75 per cent and 25 per cent?
Comment on this
What steps are being taken to eliminate inadequacies in the Minister's Department in the years ahead as far as supplies of poles and so on are concerned?
Comment on this
Research is being carried out at present to see if spruce timber can be made suitable for use as transmission poles. This is providing satisfactory and will mean that spruce trees will be available for transmission poles.
Comment on this
The Minister stated that in 1980 some 80,000 poles were imported and that in 1981, 139,000 poles were imported. Can he give any reason for this large increase? Was it due to insufficiency in home production?