asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of County Meath the number of acres and location of land (1) purchased by his Department for forestry purposes, (2) already planted, and (3) in course of preparation for planting; and whether his Department have negotiations with private owners to purchase lands for forestry purposes, and, if so, the acreage and location of such lands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Forestry Lands.
55.
There are three State Forest blocks in Co. Meath—at Halfcarton and Ross, a few miles south of Lough Sheelin, at Summerhill and at Cloncowan, Tobertynan. The productive area of the Halfcarton and Ross block totals 170 acres; of this a total of 133 acres has already been planted and preparatory work for the planting of the balance of 37 acres in the current season is at present in hands. The total area held at Summerhill is 435 acres; all of this has been planted. At Cloncowan the total area held is 163 acres, of which a total of 107 acres has been planted, leaving a balance of 56 acres which will be planted this season; work on this area will commence shortly.
As regards acquisition prospects for forestry in Co. Meath, the position is that at a recent date agreement to purchase 5 areas totalling 354 acres had been reached and title was in course of clearance and negotiations for the purchase of 3 other areas toalling 180 acres were in progress. In addition there were 15 cases involving a total acreage of 386 acres at the preliminary stages of investigation.