asked the Minister for Lands how much land has been voluntarily offered to the Forestry Division of his Department in north Galway; and what is the cause of the delay in acquiring this land.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North Galway Forestry Lands.
7.
The total area on offer to my Department for State Forestry purposes in the North Galway area is 1,936 acres, comprised in 70 separate lots. Sales have been closed and possession is about to be taken in the case of three areas totalling 113 acres. Agreement to purchase has been reached in respect of 11 other areas totalling 321 acres and title is being investigated; title difficulties, however, have impeded progress in closing some of the sales. Negotiations for the purchase of five further areas totalling 427 acres are at present in progress and the remaining cases involving a total of 1,075 acres are at the preliminary stages of investigation.
I can assure the Deputy that everything possible is being done to speed up the acquisition of land for forestry in the North Galway area and that there will be no avoidable delay in dealing with the offers of land at present being investigated.