asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) what was the acreage of unplanted land acquired for purposes of afforestation and in the hands of his Department on February 18th, 1948; (b) what was the estimated plantable acreage of this land, and (c) what acreage has since been acquired and what amount of this acreage is regarded as plantable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation.
It would be difficult to give acreages for the middle of a month. On the 1st February, 1948, the area of unplanted land in the hands of the Department was 62,918 acres, of which 30,554 acres were plantable, the balance of 32,364 acres representing the accumulation of unplantable land acquired since the commencement of forestry operations by the State.
The acreage of land acquired from 1st February, 1948, to the end of February, 1949, was 3,712 acres, of which 3,382 acres are plantable.
Would the Minister repeat the last two sets of figures that he gave—that is, the figure for the acreage acquired since February, 1948?
3,712, of which 3,382 are plantable.
We are a long way from the 25,000.
I agree with the Deputy that it is a long way from the 25,000, but it must be remembered that it was the Deputy's Party which prevented the acquisition of a considerable acreage of land suitable for forestry for a number of years past because of the fact that they would not consent to pay a proper price to the owners of the land.
Arising out of the Minister's very irrelevant reply, why did the Minister not give the price?
The Minister is giving the price. That is the difference.
How many acres did you get?