asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of East Limerick (a) the total acreage of forest planted at 31st December, 1957, (b) the area available for further planting, and (c) his proposals for acquiring further land.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation in East Limerick.
The total area planted by my Department in East Limerick on 31st March, 1957, was 4,092 acres. Areas totalling 189 acres are being planted in the current season and there was on hands at the 31st December, 1957, a plantable reserve of 48 acres.
As regards acquisition figures I am unable to give the Deputy separate figures for East Limerick. The position for County Limerick as a whole is that on 31st December, 1957, my Department had reached agreement to purchase seven areas totalling 1,352 acres and the legal formalities were being completed. Negotiations for the purchase of 16 further areas totalling 1,697 acres were in progress and there were 44 cases involving a total area of 2,489 acres at the preliminary investigation stages.
Acquisition in the county will be expedited as much as possible but I must point out in regard to the figures I have quoted that from past experience it is estimated that up to 40 per cent. of all original offers do not finally come into the Department's possession.