asked the Minister for Lands whether in view of the fact that the target of 25,000 acres of forestry planting per year has been reached this year, he proposes to increase further the acreage in future years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Planting Target.
47.
I would refer the Deputy to paragraph 79 of last year's White Paper on Economic Expansion which stated that the Government's present plans in regard to State forestry provide for the planting of 25,000 acres in 1959/60 and subsequent years and that the long-term planting rate was subject, inter alia, to the rate at which land can be acquired.
All I can add to this is that the present rate of land acquisition for State forestry is such that an annual planting programme of 25,000 acres can only be accomplished with considerable difficulty. It would be quite unrealistic in the circumstances to talk about increasing the planting rate still further.
Are we to take it from the Minister's reply that there is a danger that the rate of planting will go below 25,000 acres in any year over the next four or five years?
The Deputy will appreciate that the rate of planting depends upon the amount of plantable land available to the Department. In normal forestry practice, the usual thing is to have in reserve three times the amount of land required for the purpose of economic working so that, with an annual planting rate of 25,000 acres, the Department should have approximately 75,000 acres in reserve. Every effort will be made by my Department to get the necessary land, but, unless the land is forthcoming, the target cannot be achieved.
Am I to take it that danger does exist that land will not be available in sufficient acreage to allow the target of 25,000 acres to be reached?
The Deputy may take it that I am not satisfied with the plantable reserve that we have at the moment. I ask the Deputy and all Deputies to co-operate in bringing to the notice of my Department land that may be available for the Department's purpose so that we may maintain the acreage necessary.
We shall do that, only to be told that the land is unsuitable.