asked the Minister for Lands if he has a more encouraging report to make now regarding acquisition of land for afforestation in the townlands of Derrowel and Careenahan, Balla, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Afforestation.
22.
There has been no change in the position since my reply to a similar question by the Deputy on 26th February, 1964.
23.
asked the Minister for Lands if a survey has been carried out by the Forestry Section of his Department of land in the Midfield-Swinford area, County Mayo; if it is a fact that he decided that this land was unsuitable for State planting; and if he will give the basis for this decision.
A survey of the Midfield-Swinford district was carried out by the Forestry Division of my Department in November, 1962. Sixteen offers of land which were made following the survey have been inspected and six of these offers have been rejected as unsuitable. Price has been agreed with the vendor in respect of one offer of 10½ acres and the remaining nine cases are still under consideration.
The main difficulty in this district is the existence of a mineral pan in the subsoil which would demand intensive mechanical preparation; heavy ploughs cannot operate, however, because most of the land is strewn with boulders.