asked the Minister for Lands if he has yet come to terms with the trustees of the Waterford Estate for the purchase of the lands known as Kilclooney Mountain in the parish of Mothel, County waterford, for afforestation purposes; and, if so, when it is intended to have the land planted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation.
An offer for the purchase of Kilclooney Mountain has not been accepted and as a result I do not propose to take any further action.
Mr. Murphy
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that an offer of 123 acres of land for afforestation purposes in the district of Cooranig, Dunmanway, County Cork, was made to his Department 12 months ago, and if he will explain why even an acknowledgment was not given in respect of the communication containing the offer; and, further, if he will now state what it is proposed to do in the matter.
Instructions were issued some weeks ago to have these lands inspected as well as other lands on offer in that locality. It is the practice to acknowledge all offers of land.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the acreage of land acquired for forestry purposes during the years 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950 in the Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Clare and Kerry, respectively, and the acreage of new State plantations made in those counties during the same years.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated in the Official Report.
The statement is as follows:—
AREAS ACQUIRED (IN ACRES).
|
County |
1947/48 |
1948/49 |
1949/50 |
1950/51(to date) |
|
Donegal |
371 |
— |
3,957 |
149 |
|
Leitrim |
— |
— |
— |
33 |
|
Mayo |
— |
— |
— |
3,949 |
|
Roscommon |
— |
— |
491 |
— |
|
Galway |
210 |
1,476 |
148 |
1,522 |
|
Clare |
50 |
113 |
285 |
190 |
|
Kerry |
— |
— |
73 |
— |
AREAS PLANTED.
|
County |
1947/48 |
1948/49 |
1949/50 |
1950/51* |
|
Donegal |
403 |
251 |
141 |
300 |
|
Leitrim |
94 |
114 |
104 |
200 |
|
Mayo |
52 |
96 |
20 |
200 |
|
Roscommon |
78 |
124 |
227 |
350 |
|
Galway |
688 |
683 |
844 |
1,250 |
|
Clare |
185 |
262 |
444 |
600 |
|
Kerry |
155 |
158 |
135 |
150 |
*Approximate areas proposed for planting during the current season.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the acreage of land acquired for forestry purposes in the years 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949; the number of men employed by the Forestry Branch in these years and the acreage of new State plantations provided in these years; the acreage he hopes to purchase in 1950, 1951, 1952, and the acreage he hopes to have planted in each of these years.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement and I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated in the Official Report.
As regards the latter part of the question, nobody could forecast what area will be acquired in future years as the intake of land depends on the rate at which offers of suitable land are received and the outcome of the negotiations including very frequent difficulties about title and ownership, for the purchase of these lands. As regards the final part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply of the 22nd of last month to a question by him as to the planting programme.
The statement is as follows:—
|
Year |
Area acquired |
Numbers employed |
Area planted |
|
|
acres |
Minimum |
Maximum |
acres |
|
|
1946/47 |
4,896 |
1,507 |
2,080 |
3,850 |
|
1947/48 |
7,496 |
1,655 |
2,081 |
6,005 |
|
1948/49 |
3,767 |
1,828 |
2,189 |
7,737 |
|
1949/50 |
9,087 |
1,996 |
2,550 |
7,393 |
|
1950/51to date |
11,065 |
2,352 |
2,740 |
Planting has just begun. |