asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether, in view of great distress and unemployment in Doneraile and Buttevant districts, he will make provisions at an early date for the granting of moneys out of the Relief Grant for tree-planting of the large holdings suitable and available for this purpose in those areas.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TREE PLANTING IN CO. CORK.
The funds available to the Department for afforestation purposes in the present financial year have already been hypothecated. I may add that the Department's programme provides for the planting of 200 acres in the current season in the Ballyhoura forest area, and it is not considered advisable to extend planting operations beyond that programme. Apart from the fact that funds are not at present available, the growth of trees on a considerable portion of the land is still a matter of uncertainty, and further observation is, accordingly, required.