asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what schemes of afforestation are contemplated for Kerry, showing (a) the localities in which it is intended to carry out such schemes, (b) the amount of money proposed to be expended thereon and whether he is aware that in West and South Kerry there is great need of afforestation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation Schemes in Kerry.
The Department have not, so far, succeeded in acquiring any suitable area in County Kerry for the purposes of State afforestation. They will of course, be prepared to consider any suitable offers which may be received in the matter from that country. In regard to the concluding portion of the question, shelter belt planing would undoubtedly prove beneficial to agriculture in the West and South of the county, as on the West Coast of Ireland generally, but there is little land sheltered sufficiently from the sea winds for the growing of trees for commercial purposes within a considerable distance of the sea coast.