asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether (a) enough land, (b) a sufficient number of plants suitable for transplanting and (c) an adequate number of trained officers will be available to ensure that the decision to plant 25,000 acres annually will be implemented before 1953.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land for Afforestation.
The decision to which the Deputy refers was taken in 1949 and was based upon the assumption that there were 1,200,000 acres of land which should, in the national interest, be devoted to afforestation. F.A.O. was subsequently asked to have this assumption and various allied questions examined independently. The report of that examination was furnished in February, 1951, and was circulated to Deputies in November, 1951. Its implications are being carefully examined by the Government as part of a review of forestry development possibilities generally.
In any event, the available reserve of plantable land at the disposal of my Department would not justify the planting in the 1952-53 planting season of an area of 25,000 acres. The remainder of the Deputy's question does not, therefore, arise.
Might I ask the Minister whether the present Government has any term in mind with regard to forestry development? Have they in mind that within the next two or three years they intend to reach a ceiling of, say, 25,000 or 30,000 acres per year, or are they just working on a haphazard basis of planting from year to year?
There is no haphazard basis. There is a regular progressive policy of development. As the Deputy knows from the answers given to previous questions of his, the amount planted each year has increased considerably. I am hopeful that that increase will continue. To lay down a fixed target for a particular year may look very well in a political speech, but it does not necessarily get us any further with planting. Whether we have a target or not, we have not got the land. We should have about three times the area that we expect to plant in a particular year in the pool if we are going to continue the policy of increasing forestry development.
Would the Minister reply to Deputy McQuillan's supplementary? Has the Government an acreage target or not?
The Government is aiming at planting the maximum acreage, having regard to the lands in hand and the organisation available.
What is that, what is the acreage?
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that Mr. Peter Sullivan, Dirreenacoppal, Tahilla, Killarney offered 360 acres and Mr. Barney O'Sullivan, Eskine, Tahilla, Killarney, offered all his land to the Forestry Division of his Department for afforestation purposes; and, if so, whether he will ensure that these offers are accepted at an early date.
The area offered by Mr. Peter Sullivan of Dirreenacoppal, Killarney, has been inspected and found to be unsuitable for acquisition for forestry purposes. Investigations into the offer made by Mr. Barney O'Sullivan of Eskine have not yet been completed but reports indicate that the area is unlikely to be suitable. Mr. O'Sullivan will be notified of the Department's decision in the near future.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware of the delay in carrying through the proposed afforestation scheme at Lickeen, Glencar, County Kerry; and, if so, whether he will arrange for this scheme to be commenced at the earliest possible date.
As indicated in my reply of the 31st October last, the delay in this case arises from the difficulties of proving title. Every effort is being made to have the sale completed.
Is the Minister aware that considerable delay is caused by the question of title and is he aware that I have asked his Department on several occasions to contact the solicitors acting for the landlord in this case with a view to expediting their decision in this matter? This scheme will be prolonged for a number of years at the present rate of progress, and I wonder is there any way at all in which his Department could intimate to these people that there must be some finality in the matter?
The legal representatives of the Forestry Division are in touch with the vendors' solicitors, but I understand that they have to make inquiries and certain investigations. I shall endeavour to have the matter expedited if it lies in my power.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the area of arable land acquired by his Department for afforestation in County Wexford since 1940, and how much of this arable land has already been afforested.
My Department keeps no records of the area of arable land acquired or planted in any county. The Department seeks to avoid the acquisition of good agricultural land for afforestation purposes, but large blocks of forestry land acquired occasionally include pockets of agricultural land. Whether such areas are planted or not depends on the particular circumstances of each case.