asked the Minister for Lands when it is proposed to commence afforestation work in the Coolkelure Estate, Dunmanway, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation on Dunmanway Estate.
63.
As the lands in question have not yet come under the control of my Department, I cannot say when afforestation work will commence there.
Will the Minister not agree that the Minister for Lands gave me a definite assurance in this House that this estate would be taken over in the month of August, 1960? Surely the statement he has just read out to the effect that the lands have not yet been taken over by the Department does not in any way coincide with the statement made by the Minister in this House in July last?
All I can tell the Deputy on that is that there are certain legal complications that have not yet been disentangled.
Will the Minister not agree, from the file at his disposal, that the Minister for Lands stated in July last that these difficulties would be overcome and that the lands would be taken over in the month of August, 1960? Furthermore will he not agree that the Minister for Lands must not have been conversant with the position in the month of July last?
A conference between the vendor's solicitor and representatives of the Department is being arranged with the Chief State Solicitor's office in an effort to resolve these difficulties.
If the Minister will read the reply of the Minister for Lands in July last, he will see that he said they were resolved then.