asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction over the planting of arable land on the Healy Estate at Clonmore, Hackettstown, County Carlow, particularly because local labour is not being employed; and if he will take action to remedy the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Planting of Carlow Estate.
14.
The lands in question comprise 226 acres in two compact blocks in the townlands of Ballyshane and Killalongford and they were recently allocated to the Forestry Division for afforestation purposes on the division of lands in the Clonmore area. The Land Commission, in allocating the lands to the Forestry Division, took all relevant considerations into account and decided that the lands were more suitable for planting than for land division purposes.
The lands have been attached to Ballinglen Forest, where a serious redundancy problem arose last March. It was feared at the time that it would be necessary to lay off 12 men at the Forest, but the acquisition of these lands provided a solution to the problem. It is the normal practice to continue existing Forest staff in employment at new properties, where practicable, instead of laying off the men with service to take on new men.
Is the Minister aware that all the people in that neighbourhood feel quite certain that the lands, or rather a substantial portion of the lands being acquired for forestry purposes, are arable, and have been making representations to the Land Commission to that effect for some considerable time?
I understand there are occasionally cases where there is some element in the matter which can be regarded as debatable locally. The Land Commission take everything into consideration, including the needs of local congests, before making a decision.
Is it not perfectly obvious to the Minister that forestry will not be successful in a neighbourhood unless there is goodwill in the neighbourhood?
Is the Deputy making a threat?