asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that in or about 1,500 acres of land for forestry purposes are available at Carhan, Canbourn and Castlequinn, near Caherciveen, and what action is being taken to acquire these lands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Kerry Forestry Lands.
My Department has received 11 offers of land for forestry purposes totalling 254 acres from landholders in the townlands of Carhan and Castlequinn, County Kerry. Ten of these offers totalling 208 acres are being investigated. In the remaining case, preliminary investigations have been completed.
A tentative offer of 200 acres of land was received last May from a landholder in the townland of Canbourn. So far this man has not replied to letters addressed to him by my Department and it is possible he may not wish to proceed further with the offer.
In the nearby townlands of Killogrove, Gurteen and Curranebane, my Department is dealing with four offers totalling 659 acres.
Altogether, therefore, the Department is dealing with 15 offers totalling 913 acres in the district referred to, excluding the tentative offer in the townland of Canbourn. All these cases will be expedited as far as possible.