asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the total acreage acquired by his Department from Min Fhéir Teoranta for forestry purposes, (b) the estimated plantable acreage, (c) the species which it is proposed to plant, (d) the number of men (i) at present employed and (ii) likely to be employed in the future, and (e) whether he has received any other offers of land in the locality suitable for forestry purposes, and, if so, what is the present position in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation on Glenamoy (Mayo) Lands.
My Department has taken over for afforestation purposes an area of approximately 1,700 acres at Glenamoy, County Mayo, formerly held by Min Fhéir Teoranta.
The entire area consists of blanket bog typical of many other extensive areas in the West and its acquisition will afford my Department an excellent opportunity of exploring the possibilities of such areas for forestry; in this context, the entire area is regarded as plantable but it is definitely in the experimental category.
In the current season, 200 acres are being planted there, the species used being mainly Sitka Spruce and Contorta Pine, with smaller quantities of Japanese Larch, Silver Fir, Maritime Pine, Alder and Birch.
At present there are 30 men employed at the Glenamoy centre. Normally there would be permanent employment for between 20 and 25 men but extra men were recruited to complete the current planting programme. Further increases in the permanent labour force will depend on the expansion of our activities in the area.
As regards acquisition prospects in the district, my Department has agreed to purchase an area of almost 1,800 acres at Glenturk Beg and the legal formalities are being completed. In addition two other offers totalling 750 acres are at the preliminary investigation stage.