asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the lands offered for forestry purposes in Lecanvey and Murrisk, County Mayo, have been pronounced suitable for successful afforestation by more than one expert of the Forestry Division; and, if so, if he will have the question of acceptance of these offers reconsidered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry in County Mayo.
I am not aware of any pronouncement on the lines indicated by the Deputy by any officer of my Department. The second part of the question accordingly does not arise.
If the Minister takes the trouble to look at the map survey which I caused to be made of plantable land in this country, he will find that 433 acres within the area are described on that map as plantable. I would ask the Minister, has he received representations from a county councillor in that area, either publicly or privately, requesting him not to proceed with planting in this area?
The land is from 300 to 1,850 feet above sea level. The land over 900 feet, which is a heather covered peat area, is fully exposed to the prevailing south-west winds. The lower lying portion is sheltered from these but exposed to the deflected winds from Clew Bay. Much of the latter area is cutaway bog and with the high rainfall in this district and the steep gradient—1 in 4—the disturbed peat has had little chance to consolidate. The result now is that there is no worthwhile covering over the mass of underlying scree that forms the core of Croagh Patrick and its foothills. The covering consists of peat pockets of varying depth and a thin layer of leached soil is being constantly washed away and is not of sufficient depth to carry a tree crop. Apart from a few minor areas the vegetation is exceptionally sparse.
May I say that while some of this land is above a height which it would be wise to plant, the Department for years has been forced to purchase some unplantable land in order to acquire land in the immediate proximity which is plantable? May I assure the Minister that this land is not cutaway bog? Most of it is good mineral soil, much better than land further west which is more exposed to the sea at Louisburgh which has been successfully planted during my time and in which the transplants are now growing healthily.
I think that the officers who have examined the problem are as enthusiastic as the Deputy, and probably more enthusiastic, about furthering forestry, but they want to get land that offers reasonable prospects of being successfully planted.
There is a certain Fianna Fáil county councillor in that area who is very enthusiastic about stopping it.