asked the Minister for Lands what is the cause of the delay in starting work on the proposed forestry scheme at Caragh Lake, County Kerry, and if he will expedite a decision in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Forestry Schemes.
I presume the Deputy refers to the area recently acquired at Glannagilliagh. There has been no delay, and plans have been made for the commencement of preliminary work during the coming summer.
asked the Minister for Lands what is the cause of the delay in carrying through the proposed afforestation scheme at Kilderry, Miltown, County Kerry, and if he will have the work expedited.
An area of 63 acres was acquired at Knockagarrane, in January, 1955. This area will be worked in conjunction with the existing Killacloghane property and work will commence there when planting at Killacloghane has been completed.
asked the Minister for Lands whether it is proposed to acquire, for afforestation purposes, the Caherleheen and Poulawaddra mountain lands, Ballyseedy estate, County Kerry, which are held in common by a number of tenants, and, if so, when.
Preliminary investigation of the ownership of 1,015 acres in this district has already been made and an inspection of the area will be carried out in the near future.
Is there any report of an inspection of this property carried out 13 months ago?
No. I am informed that this area was first brought to the Department's notice only recently by the Deputy himself and an inspector will probably make an inspection within the next few weeks.
In March, 1954, 13 months ago, an officer from the Forestry Branch approached me with a number of consent forms and asked me to get the forms signed. Is there any report of that?
If the forms were sent back, there will be. It appears, however, from the information to hand that this area has not been inspected so far. First inspection has still to take place.
I am well aware that this matter has been under discussion and consideration by the Forestry Branch for the simple reason that there were two resolutions from the Kerry County Council at different dates to have this property acquired —one in 1926 and the other in 1931. The officer from the Department had the 1926 resolution. I asked him if he had the 1931 resolution asking the Forestry Branch to investigate the possibility of developing this area and he said: "No". It is somewhat peculiar if an officer from a Department can joy-ride around the country and not make any particular report of where he has been, what he has seen and what he has done.