asked the Minister for Lands what is the present position with regard to the acquisition of land and initiation of forestry work in regard to 350 acres at Baunskeha, 130 acres at Coppenagh and 80 acres at Columkille, all in the area of Thomastown, County Kilkenny, which are available to his Department; whether he is aware that if forestry work is started on these lands there is a strong probability that further land in the same area would become available to his Department; and whether, in view of the availability of land and of the unemployment recently caused in the Thomastown area by the closure of the local flour mills, he will take immediate steps to start forestry work on these lands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thomastown (Kilkenny) Forestry Lands.
27.
The position regarding lands on offer to the Forestry Division of my Department in the Baunskeha, Coppenagh and Columkille areas near Thomastown, County Kilkenny, is that agreement has been reached on price in respect of 15 areas totalling 323 acres. Negotiations are in progress for a further five areas totalling 214 acres and two further areas totalling 207 acres are in the course of preliminary investigation. It is not possible to say when the purchase of any of these areas will be completed.
Could the Minister hurry up these matters? Is he aware that seven forestry workers were let go in this area during the past week?
The completion of the purchases will be expedited as much as we can, but the Deputy will appreciate that in many of these cases, the delay may be on the part of the owner as much as the Department.
Could the Minister say how long these negotiations have been going on?
I have not that information at this time.
On 1st January, 1962, I submitted a list of farmers with land offered to the Department in this area.
The Deputy is lucky it is not ten years ago.
Submitting offers of land is one matter; the question of reaching agreement on price, as the Deputy is aware, is quite another.