asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that there are about 100 acres of scrub land at Cillocrohan, Milltown, County Kerry, the owner of which, Lord Monteagle, Monteagle estate, is anxious should be taken over by the forestry branch of his Department; and, if so, if he will have a survey made of these lands to test their suitability for afforestation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation.
The position regarding these lands has not changed since my reply of 26th October, 1949, to a similar question.
Will the Minister have a survey made with a view to reconsidering the action taken already?
The trouble in this case is that the area of about 90 acres is owned by a number of people, and even of the 90 acres there are only small parcels which are plantable. That is not desirable at all from the point of view of the forestry division.
Will the Minister depart from the procedure in relation to plots of 200 and 300 acres and accept a scheme such as that proposed in the question of 100 acres and so accommodate people who are offering land in these districts?
There is no ceiling down to a very small figure provided the prospects of establishing a forest centre in the area are good. In this case, the 90 acres on offer are not attractive because most of the land is not suitable and coupled with that is the fact that there are poor prospects of other land coming in to form an economic forest block.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that 100 acres of land at Dromulton, Scartaglin, County Kerry, have been offered for afforestation by Messrs. Cahill, McSweeney, O'Connor and Horan and if he will state what action has been taken regarding the offer.
The area on offer comprises 62 acres in five separate ownerships, not 100 acres as stated in the question. It is, in itself, too small and too isolated to acquire for planting and the only hope for acquisition rests in the availability of other lands in the neighbourhood.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress, if any, has been made recently with the arrangements for planting the portions of the lands of Beeing and Burnfort, North Cork, which were offered by the tenants to his Department for forestry purposes a considerable time ago.
The purchase of 377 acres in Beeing and 295 acres in Ballyhillog and Ballyknockane near Burnfort is almost completed. The owners are getting title proved and as soon as this is done planting operations will immediately commence.