asked the Minister for Lands what proposals exist in his Department in connection with the forestry programme in County Limerick; and if he will state their probable employment content.
Written Answers. - Limerick Forestry Programme.
80.
The rate of expansion of State Forestry in Co. Limerick, as elsewhere, will be determined by the rate at which land suitable for planting can be acquired by my Department. It would be impracticable for me to attempt to forecast what the future employment level on forestry work in the county will be since this will to a large extent depend on the extent of the planting programmes at the particular centres and the volume of general management and maintenance work available. I can assure the Deputy that everything possible will be done to speed up the acquisition of land for planting in Co. Limerick and to increase the annual planting programmes there.
The total productive area at present held by my Department at the five forests in Co. Limerick is 6,608 acres. Of this, a total of 5,194 acres has been planted. In the current season additional areas totalling 727 acres will be planted in Co. Limerick, compared with 280 acres last year. The total number of men at present employed on State Forestry work in the county is 81.
As regards land acquisition prospects in the county, the position is that at a recent date agreement to purchase 4 areas totalling 556 acres had been reached and title had either been cleared or was in course of clearance. Negotiations for the purchase of 16 other areas totalling 860 acres were in progress and there were 52 cases with a total area of 3,716 acres at the preliminary stages of investigation.