asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the area in statute acres of arable land in Éire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arable Land in Éire.
The distribution of land under crops and pasture in Éire at 1st June, 1939, as returned by the enumerators of the agricultural statistics was:—
|
Statute Acres. |
|
|
Corn and green crops, flax and fruit |
1,492,002 |
|
Hay |
2,061,881 |
|
Pasture |
8,052,352 |
|
Total crops and pasture |
11,606,235 |
The extent to which the area under meadow and pasture could be regarded as "arable", that is as capable of cultivation for the production of crops, has not been precisely determined.
How does the Minister consider that it will be possible to enforce the compulsory tillage order if the Government are not aware of what area of land is capable of being put under cultivation?
I am sure that the inspectors of the Department of Agriculture are quite competent to determine whether the land is capable of being cultivated or not.
Does not the Minister admit that it is an extraordinary thing that a survey has not been made of the area of land capable of being cultivated and that some plans have not been made out, having regard to the amount of money spent by the Department?
I could not possibly make any such admission as the Deputy suggests I ought to make.