asked the Minister for Lands if he proposes to increase afforestation.
45.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation Development.
44.
asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the record rate of tree plantation and plantable reserves achieved up to March, 1973, the year 1973-74 will show a further expansion on 1972-73; and, if not, why.
(Cavan): With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. The annual planting programme in State forests has stood at 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) since 1959-60 and this programme has been substantially achieved in every year since.
There are no proposals to vary the programme and planting for 1973-74 will be on the same basis as in 1972-73.
It is anticipated that the plantable reserve at the end of 1973-74 will be approximately the same as at the end of 1972-73 planting season.
Would the Minister agree that there are very strong arguments at this time for increasing afforestation, and that while certain targets may have been attained in 1970, 1971 and 1972, there is a new situation?
(Cavan): There may be such arguments, but the difficulty will be to reach the existing target. As the Deputy will probably realise, it is becoming more and more difficult to acquire land for planting. The Department of Lands have never exercised compulsory powers to acquire such land. It was comparatively easy in the past to acquire the sort of land required, indifferent or bad land, but it is very difficult to find such a thing as bad land at present. It may very well be that the entire policy in regard to price and compulsory powers and so on, will have to be looked at.
Would I be right in thinking then, that if there is land that the Forestry Division wish to take over, if a neighbouring farmer wishes to take it and develop it, the Forestry Division will cede to him?
(Cavan): As I have told the House, the Department of Lands have not compulsorily acquired any land for planting purposes. When land is offered to the Department of Lands the policy has been, if there is any doubt as to whether the land would be useful for agricultural purposes as distinct from forestry purposes, that the Land Commission inspectors are asked to have a look at it. If they advise that the land is suitable for agricultural purposes the Department of Lands pull out in favour of the neighbouring farmer.
Is it inspectors from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries or the Department of Lands who decide whether it is land that would be suitable for agriculture?
(Cavan): To date it has been inspectors from the Department of Lands, who, of course, have a wide experience over the years in dealing with this sort of thing.
Does the Minister believe that the price being paid for land for afforestation purposes is realistic at the present time?
(Cavan): I would not regard it as highly competitive.
In view of the fact that the Minister is concerned about having enough land available for afforestation purposes, would he not have this matter examined?
(Cavan): The whole matter is being examined and will have to be further examined in the light of prevailing conditions, the economics, and the employment content, and so on, of the whole question of afforestation.
The land bank for afforestation is being diminished.
(Cavan): That is so because many Deputies are, day after day, making representations calling on the Department of Lands to release land which they have for forestry purposes to farmers who want to graze sheep.
Some years ago when land was taken over there was a problem there, probably the land was not up to the standard or something else, but the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries or is it the Land Commission and the Forestry Division——
I want to help Deputy Ahern, but he must ask a supplementary.
Would the Minister be prepared to consider the handing back of that land to the smallholders in the area?
(Cavan): I am sure any land that was taken over has been planted. I am not too clear about what exactly the Deputy has in mind, but if he will put down a question about a specific piece of land I shall do my best to answer it.
46.
asked the Minister for Lands if he has any plans to extend the planting of broad-leaves.
(Cavan): A special additional grant for the planting of hardwoods is paid to private planters under the planting grant scheme administered by my Department. In addition wherever soil and other conditions permit broadleaf species are planted on State forest lands.
47.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will set up a woodland trust with a view to halting the loss of broad-leaved trees.
49.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will consider updating the Forestry Act, 1946 with a view to the preservation of trees.
(Cavan): With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 47 and 49 together. I am satisfied that existing legislative powers on tree preservation are adequate as far as my Department are concerned and do not propose taking action on the lines suggested.
I presume the Minister has read the recent Taisce report regarding trees——
(Cavan): Yes.
——and I think that report urges that the Minister should take additional powers. Does he not agree with that report?
(Cavan): My advice at the moment is that the powers are adequate and that no additional powers are necessary.
Would the Minister have information available about the number of prosecutions under the Act?
That is a separate question.
(Cavan): I think there was another question about that on the Order Paper. It may have been answered by written reply previously, but it was on the Order Paper.
48.
asked the Minister for Lands the number of cases in which fines were imposed under the Forestry Act, 1946 in regard to the felling of trees since 1st March, 1973.
(Cavan): There was one case since 1st March, 1973, in which a fine was imposed for illegal tree felling.
May I ask the Minister what Department is responsible for the application of that Act? Is it the Department of Lands?
(Cavan): I assume it is the Department of Lands in conjunction with the Department of Justice.
One case seems a very small number to me. Is the Minister satisfied that the machinery in his Department is adequate to protect the trees under the Act?
(Cavan): I am, yes.
Have any local authorities been prosecuted under the Act?
(Cavan): That is a separate question, but, subject to confirmation, I think that local authorities are exempt in regard to road widening.
50.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will further improve the scheme of grants for private planting of trees.
(Cavan): I am satisfied that the private planting grant scheme, as revised in 1972, is generally acceptable and further changes in the scheme would not be justified at the present time.
I am sure the Minister is aware like everybody else that enormous damage was done throughout the country by two recent very severe storms, and in many parts of the country a considerable number of trees were destroyed. In view of this, has he any plans to have an intensive effort made by his Department to encourage private planting with particular reference to replacing some very valuable, very interesting, plantations which have been very severely damaged in these recent storms?
(Cavan): The amount of damage done by recent storms in State forests is being assessed at the moment and a full report has not yet come from the various forests to my Department. I have no particulars of the damage done to private plantations, but I assume it is considerable all over the country. When full particulars of damage done to State forests and an estimation of the other damage come to hand, we shall have another look at the matter in the light of what the Deputy says.
Would the Minister bear in mind that a particular situation has arisen in the last few months as a result of these very severe storms? Would he be prepared to instruct his Department to undertake some very special action to restore the situation?
(Cavan): I can tell the Deputy that when a full report comes in the whole matter will be considered, and I shall bear in mind what the Deputy has said.
The Minister might make a report to the House?
(Cavan): The Deputy will probably remind me.
51.
asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the value of Irish forests, he is satisfied that trees are getting sufficient fertiliser; and if solid farm-yard manure and slurry liquid could be used for manuring them.
(Cavan): The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative. Farmyard manure and slurry could be used to treat forest areas but there are practical difficulties arising from the cost of transportation and spreading.
52.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Forestry Division have rented land for growing timber; and, if so, on what terms.
(Cavan): The practice of the Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department is to acquire land in fee simple and not to take it under lease. No land has been so leased since 1934. At present the service hold land under 16 leases which were negotiated in the period 1919-1934. The terms vary in accordance with the agreements reached with the various lessors.
In view of the fact that there is a possibility that the leasing of land will start again under the new European scheme for the modernisation of farms, does the Minister think that there might be a possibility of leasing land for afforestation?
(Cavan): As the Deputy knows, the scheme under the EEC visualised 12-year leases and these leases would not be appropriate for forestry purposes.
I did not specify 12 years for forestry.
(Cavan): On the whole it would be much more satisfactory to purchase land fee simple for forestry purposes. Forestry is a long-term business.