asked the Minister for Lands if the pool of land acquired by his Department for forestry purposes has diminished over the past four years; and, if so, if he will make it more tempting for landowners to offer land to the Forestry Branch of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Lands.
79.
The area of productive forest land acquired by my Department in each of the last four years was as follows:
|
1964-65 |
21,004 acres. |
|
1965-66 |
18,257 acres. |
|
1966-67 |
18,313 acres. |
|
1967-68 |
14,267 acres. |
The entire approach to the valuation of land for forestry has been revised and I am satisfied that the kind of price being offered by my Department for suitable blocks of forestry land provides a real inducement for landowners to offer land to the Forestry Division.
Has the forestry research procedure at Glenamoy brought within the ambit of the Minister's Department's acquisition programme areas of bogland which heretofore were regarded as unsuitable for forestry purposes? Perhaps the Minister has not got that information at his disposal at the moment. Perhaps he would look into it?
I will look into it.
80.
asked the Minister for Lands if lands at Boarmanshill, Murroe, have been taken over by the Forestry Branch of his Department; if payment has been made for these lands; and when work will commence on planting them.
The lands referred to have not yet been acquired nor has payment been made. In the circumstances, it is not possible to say when planting will commence.