asked the Minister for Lands if in view of the widespread unemployment in the Shallogans Gaeltacht in West Donegal he will favourably reconsider the offer of Mr. Daniel D. Brennan of Shallogans, Fintown, to sell two hundred acres of land to his Department for afforestation purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offer of Donegal Lands for Afforestation.
32.
The Forestry Division of my Department last year inspected an area of 182 acres offered for afforestation by the person named. Less than one-third of the area was found to be plantable and the plantable content is in small scattered blocks which could not be linked up satisfactorily. The offer was entirely uneconomic as a subject for planting and its acquisition could not be recommended.
In view of the widespread unemployment in the locality and the poor nature of most of the land in the area, would the Minister reconsider his decision now, remembering that in the past similar plots were acquired for afforestation purposes by the Land Commission?
I do not accept the Deputy's suggestion about the employment position as far as forestry in the area is concerned. There are 20 men employed at present and there has been no drop in employment in the area.
I am referring to unemployment generally.
The position is as I have stated. It would be quite uneconomic to acquire these scattered patches, I am advised, for the purposes of afforestation.