asked the Minister for Lands if he will state how many acres are held by the Forestry Branch in the Faithlegg, Checkpoint, Passage-East, Woodstown, and Dunmore-East areas, County Waterford, and whether the Forestry Branch have decided to acquire further acreage in these areas for the purpose of re-afforestation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Forestry Lands.
In the district referred to by the Deputy, my Department has acquired an area of 23 acres in the townland of Raheen. It will be planted in the coming planting season and work is already in progress there.
My Department has received 21 further offers of land, totalling 461 acres, in the district. Agreement to purchase one area of 89 acres has been reached, and the legal formalities are being completed. Negotiations for the purchase of four other areas totalling 169 acres are in progress. The remaining cases are still at the preliminary investigation stages.