asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what offers of land for forestry in West Limerick were made to his Department in 1957 and to date in 1958, the amount of land offered, its location and the decision arrived at in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land for Forestry in West Limerick.
asked the Minister for Lands if his Department have any proposals for the acquisition of land for forestry purposes in West Limerick during 1958.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together.
Acquisition statistics are kept on a county basis and I am unable, therefore, to furnish separate figures for West Limerick as requested by the Deputy.
The position for County Limerick as a whole is that four offers of land for forestry purposes with a total area of 174 acres were received in 1957 and in addition an area of 68 acres was offered on an exchange basis. One offer involving an area of five acres has been received so far in 1958. All of these cases are at the preliminary investigation stages.
As regards immediate acquisition prospects in the county, the position is that possession is about to be taken of an area of 197 acres, offers have been accepted and the legal formalities are being completed in the case of six areas with a total area of 1,566 acres and negotiations are in progress for the purchase of 17 further areas with a total area of 1,370 acres. Acquisition of forestry lands in 1957-58 totalled 649 acres in County Limerick.