asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what acreage of land the Forestry Branch has taken over in the Portroe and Silvermines areas of North Tipperary for afforestation purposes, and if he will have this work carried on on a larger scale so as to assist the unemployed in those areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation in North Tipperary.
The total productive area of land held by my Department for afforestation in the Portroe and Silvermines area is 1,356 acres of which a total of 753 acres has been planted. The area scheduled for planting in the current season comprises 198 acres and this work, together with other forestry work being undertaken in the area, will afford constant employment to a staff of 25 men for the season. It is considered that the level of planting being undertaken in the area is as high as possible having regard to the plantable reserve position. The rapid utilisation of all the land available would not be in conformity with sound forestry practice and would almost certainly result in redundancy among the existing staff at an early date.