asked the Minister for Lands how much land has been voluntarily offered to the Forestry Division of his Department in the constituency of Galway South; and what is the cause of the delay in acquiring this land.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South Galway Forestry Land Offers.
37.
The total area on offer to my Department for State Forestry purposes in South Galway (apart from commonages) is 6,763 acres, comprised in 104 separate lots. Agreement to purchase has been reached in respect of 20 areas totalling 774 acres and title is in course of clearance. Negotiations for the purchase of 10 more areas totalling 823 acres are in progress and it is hoped to open negotiations soon with the owners of 11 further areas totalling 623 acres. The remaining cases involving a total area of 4,543 acres are at the preliminary stages of investigation.
In addition my Department is investigating the possibility of acquiring all or parts of 8 commonages in South Galway with a total area of 3,886 acres but proceedings in these cases will be necessarily protracted.
Intake of land for afforestation in South Galway will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. Last year a total of 1,724 acres was acquired in the district and this year's planting programme of 1,464 acres is the highest ever undertaken at the forests there.