asked the Minister for Lands whether it is proposed to utilise the field known as the Balloch House field on the Courtown estate, County Wexford, for afforestation; and, if such is the intention, whether, since the field is arable, he will have the matter re-examined with a view to having the field allotted to a smallholder living in the immediate area of the estate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Utilisation of Wexford Field.
The field in question comprises about ten acres of neglected, semi-arable land. It forms part of a compact forest block and some work preparatory to planting has already been carried out on it. Its disposal would have an adverse effect on the forestry development of the surrounding lands and it has, accordingly, been decided to plant it. The matter has already been fully considered and I am not prepared to have it reopened.
I regret to have to disagree with the Minister in this instance, but I am informed locally by everybody that this is an arable field. I have been informed that it has actually grown wheat.
This is a speech.
Arising further out of the Minister's reply, is it not the policy to allocate arable land to small-holders? I shall give the Minister any time he likes the names of four small-holders who live within a stone's throw of the field. The Minister's proposal does not make sense to me, somehow or other.