asked the Minister for Lands what progress has been made towards the establishment of a forest centre in the Cloonfad area, County Roscommon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon—Afforestation.
Three offers of land in the district of Cloonfad have been received and are under consideration.
Has the Minister any idea as to the acreage involved?
110 acres, I think.
In view of the fact that this is the congested area to which I referred in a previous question is there any possibility of the Minister directing the inspectors of his Department to meet the people in that area for the purpose of acquiring land to establish a forestry centre there?
I would be delighted to do that at any time.
Would the Minister agree to sending an inspector down there to meet the people as soon as possible?
I will, provided there is a decent chance of offers of land coming in. In fact, from my own knowledge of the place, Cloonfad appears to be arable country and an area in which it would be unlikely we would get a block of land of sufficient size to develop a forestry centre.
Is the Minister aware that in 1954 I received a letter from the Department in which it was stated that it was considered, on initial survey, that approximately 250 acres of land would be available immediately and that generally the area is considered to be one in which there are good prospects of securing additional land for afforestation purposes?
That may be the Deputy's view, but my view, from my knowledge of the country round about, is that it would be most unlikely we would get any decent offers of land there. It is good arable country, as the Deputy knows, except for a certain low-lying bog area.
In Cloonfad area there are over 350 holdings and most of the land is cut-away bog.