asked the Minister for Lands if the Forestry Division will arrange to employ men on the large-scale work of replanting 250 acres on Cullohill Mountain, near Durrow, County Laoighis, as men are available, and need employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Replanting of Laoighis Mountain.
The area on offer in this district amounts to only 115 acres forming a long narrow strip of about two miles. The preparation and fencing costs of such an area would be excessive and acquisition of the offers as they stand at present cannot be considered.
Can the Minister say whether it is proposed to institute further inquiries with a view to having this work undertaken, particularly in view of the large number of unemployed in Durrow, Cullohill and Rathdowney?
No. As I explained to the House, the question of the fencing and preparation of land and its general accessibility and convenience for administration are matters that have to be considered. In this particular case there are 20 plots held by 16 individuals forming a long, narrow strip of land more than 100 yards in width and about two miles in length. In order to deal with that, we would have to make a bargain with each of the 16 individuals in question. To clear the land of the hazel scrub would be very costly and to fence the plots would also be very costly. If we could get as an addition to this long strip of land an area of 60 acres of rough land adjoining it might be worth while considering the matter.
May I take it that so far as the Forestry Department is concerned, that is the end of that?