asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if it is the intention of the Government to give official patronage to the celebration of Arbor Day on Saturday, 1st November, 1924; if he will state to what extent it is proposed to put into operation any of the schemes of the Department of Lands and Agriculture for the furtherance of tree-planting in the Saorstát, and to what extent such schemes have been exercised, and if it is intended to introduce legislation such as exists in other countries to compel the planting of young trees to replace those felled.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TREE PLANTING IN THE SAORSTAT.
Mr. HOGAN
No request has been received by the Department from the organisers of the celebration referred to by Deputy Doyle. Any application which may be made will receive careful consideration.
The Department's afforestation programme provides for the planting of 2,000 acres of land during the current planting season at their various forest properties throughout the Saorstát. Approximately 29,000 acres of land have been acquired by the Department for the purpose of afforestation up to the 30th September last. Of these, about 5,400 acres have been planted or replanted. Negotiations for the acquisition of further plantable areas are in progress.
Schemes for nurseries for the provision of trees for planting by local residents are in operation in Counties Cork, Clare, Monaghan, and Donegal.
A Bill on the subject of forestry generally has been prepared for introduction at a convenient opportunity.