asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) why portion of the State forest lands at Dunamore, Enniscorthy, was sold to a private individual, (b) the date of the sale, (c) the price received, and (d) whether any proposals were submitted to him by the purchaser as a reason why the land in question should be sold to him, and, if so, whether the purchaser has taken any steps to implement the proposals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Wexford State Forest.
A half-acre of the State forest lands at Dunamore was leased is February, 1954, to a private individual at a nominal rent. The lease, which is for 99 years, was made because the lessee had acquired a disused corn mill from the county council and the half-acre was required by him to enable a head of water to be built up. The Department was not concerned with the precise proposals the lessee had in mind for the development of the mill and the working of the mill was not made a condition of the lease. The mill, I am informed, is not in operation.
Would the Minister say if any consideration was given to the interests of the local angling association before this sale was effected?
I should like to say that that is a separate question. The decision regarding the local angling association was not affected by the lease.
Surely the Minister will take the interests of the association into consideration?
The Deputy must already know that there were difficulties in connection with the lease which did not arise in connection with the angling association.