asked the Minister for Lands whether in view of a reply of 1st March, in which he stated that newly acquired lands to the extent of 623 acres were available to the Forestry Branch in Laois, he will issue instructions for immediate development of the lands forthwith, in order that the trained and experienced men recently let off at Ossory forest might be re-employed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Forestry Lands.
27.
The Deputy appears to be under a misapprehension regarding my reply of 1st March, 1962, which dealt, inter alia, with forestry land acquisition prospects in Laois as a whole. In that reply I stated that possession was about to be taken of two areas totalling 71 acres in County Laois and that agreement to purchase 18 other areas totalling 552 acres in the county had been reached and that title to these areas was in the course of clearance. In the case of lands the subject of title investigations work cannot, of course, be commenced until the sales have been closed and possession of the lands taken.
Only two of the areas mentioned are situated in the Ossory Forest area. These two areas total 99 acres.
The main reason for the reduction in staff that had to be imposed at Ossory Forest at the end of 1961/62 was a drop in the available reserves of work on such operations as road construction, drainage repairs and general maintenance work.