asked the Minister for Lands if he will consider linking the proposed afforestation scheme for Milltown, County Kerry, with the Glencar centre and in view of the fact that land in the Glenbeigh area is being offered for afforestation purposes, whether he will arrange to have it acquired and linked with the Milltown and Glencar schemes, the combined schemes covering an area of approximately 4,000 acres.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation.
Mr. Flynn
It is expected that a a considerable area will be acquired for afforestation in the Glencar and Glenbeigh districts. Only small isolated areas have been offered in the Milltown district, and unless better offers are received there is little prospect of starting a scheme there.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will define the Government's policy regarding afforestation and state the reason or reasons for the disemployment of forestry workers in Dunmanway, Thomastown and other areas at a time when work is urgently needed in these districts.
It is the Government's policy to acquire and plant as quickly as possible all available land which can be economically afforested, and which is more suited for afforestation than for agriculture.
Some forestry operations are seasonal. In the slack periods, if work is not available, the services of some labourers have to be dispensed with.
Is the Minister aware that recently a number of men were laid off and were sent for on the 16th instant and paid whatever holiday money is due to them. Since then the head forester has taken on a group of new men, and no opportunity was given to the men laid off to be reemployed. Is the Minister aware that the same thing has happened in Dunmanway?
Work on the Thomastown forest finished, and work was then commenced by the same forester in Coolnamuck, 12 miles away. The men who had been laid off in Thomastown were informed they could work in the new district, but I think they were wise not to accept work there.
My information is that they were not informed at all.
Mr. Murphy
Is the Minister aware that the men in Dunmanway were given only one day's notice and that most of those who were dismissed had longer service than those who were retained? The Minister informed me, in reply to representations, that the men would be taken back at the end of February and kept in employment until the end of March. The men have not yet been taken back.
I will inquire into that.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that a large acreage of land suitable for afforestation purposes is available in the Luggacurran electoral area of County Leix and that some of these lands were offered for this purpose to his Department some time ago, and if he will now state what action he has taken or proposes taking to acquire this land.
I hope to purchase, in the near future, a key area of some 400 acres of land in this district. If the proceedings are successful all other offers of land in the area will be investigated.