Minister stresses importance of forestry in providing extra income

Forestry, if properly managed, can provide an additional income source through thinning, minister of state Tom Hayes stressed yesterday.

He said this, in turn, would help to maximise timber production and therefore income for a forest owner at felling stage. Mr Hayes, who was officially opening Talking Timber, a Teagasc-organised event in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, said there was the wider picture as well.

“In the context of our forestry sector, it is vital that privately-owned timber is made available to the timber industry,” he said.