I would like to have some information from the Minister on the lines that Deputy Dillon has indicated. I would like to know, for instance, the minimum acreage of the belts that will be taken for the purpose of planting. Some years ago the complaint was made that the belts were too big, that is to say, belts of in or about 200 acres. I have been down through the country and I think the people are being misled in connection with this forestry scheme. I do not know where the information is coming from, but I have met several people with 20 and 30 acres and they seem to be sure that their land is going to be taken over for planting. They have also been led to believe that the price they will get will be £4 10s. per acre. I would like to know from the Minister the minimum acreage that will be taken for the purposes of planting as well as the price that will be paid for the land, and whether the land will be freehold. I believe myself that belts of 300 acres will be difficult to get from one person. Certainly the planting of small plots of, say, 30 or 40 acres is going to be very costly. Personally, I would like to see belts of in or about 100 acres. In the case of planting, I want to make an appeal to the Minister that the needs of the West of Ireland will be attended to. Alongside the agricultural station at Athenry you have a belt of about 600 acres. I believe the Forestry Department tried some years ago to make a deal in connection with that, but it was not completed. I would appeal to the Minister to see that areas in Connemara are planted, such as the Maam Valley and other areas. It would be of great benefit and certainly would afford shelter in that part of the country. I have been informed also that the land there is very suitable for planting.
A few years ago, when the present Government was in Opposition, the members of it said that when they got into office their scheme of planting would be 10,000 acres per annum. The scheme carried out under the late Government was in or about 3,000 acres, but the best that we can get from the Fianna Fáil Government, now in office for almost two years, is a scheme for 4,000 acres. I am afraid promises of the same kind must have been made around the country because there are people with 10 or 15 acres of bogland who have been led to believe that it will be taken from them for planting purposes and that they are going to get £4 10s. per acre for it. These are the sort of promises that were made by the present Government when in Opposition three or four years ago. They then told the people that if they got into office they would plant at the rate of 10,000 acres a year. The Minister for Agriculture made the admission to-day that their scheme is one of in or about 4,000 acres. I hope the Minister, when replying, will let me have the information that I have asked for.