asked the Minister for Lands the acreage of forestry lands acquired during the year ended 31st December, 1974.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Lands Acquisition.
34.
(Cavan): The area of land acquired by the Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department for the calendar year ended 31st December, 1974, was 25,342 acres.
Is the Minister satisfied that the annual intake of land for tree planting is sufficient?
(Cavan): It is becoming more difficult to acquire land for forestry. The Forestry Division never use compulsory powers. They have always relied on voluntary purchase. In the last few years farmers have been inclined to hold on to their land to see if it can be put to agricultural use. Deputies have been asked from time to time to try to persuade the Forestry Division to release land, which of course they will not do.
Does this mean that the target of 25,000 acres which has been achieved down the years is in danger? Acquisition last year dropped to 25,000 acres and not all of that acreage will be plantable.
(Cavan): No. There is no immediate danger of the target——
I do not mean immediate danger.
(Cavan): Will the Deputy please let me answer the question? There is no immediate danger in the foreseeable future of the target not being reached due to scarcity of land. There is a pool of land sufficient to ensure that for the next few years——
Land which we left you.
(Cavan): Land was so cheap when the Deputy was in office that there was no trouble getting it.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 35.
(Cavan): The farmers have so much confidence in us that they want——
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
Can the Minister give an assurance that there will be no unemployment or redundancies in any sections of the forestry——
The Deputy is raising another issue.
This relates to the question.
(Cavan): That is entirely a different question. I do not anticipate any.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 35.
(Interruptions.)
Perhaps the Minister's colleagues would like to help him with his answer.
Can the Minister state if the marginal land held by the Forestry Division is not open for negotiations?
(Cavan): I understand the Deputy is suggesting that the Forestry Division should release what he calls marginal land. I am under pressure from Deputy Cunningham and other Deputies to plant more land——
No, to buy more land.
(Cavan):——to establish a bigger pool of land.
And keep the employment rate up.
Will the Minister answer "yes" or "no"?
(Cavan): Will the Deputy please let me answer the question? If the Forestry Division hold land which is considered of marginal quality, it is referred to the Land Commission to decide whether it is suitable for agriculture.
To the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries?
(Cavan): No, to the Land Commission. If the Land Commission decide it is suitable for their purposes, then it is released to them.
In view of the vast quantities of poles imported by both the Department of Transport and Power and Posts and Telegraphs, would the Minister not consider that it should be a priority that forestry land be purchased with a view to getting rid of this unnecessary import?
(Cavan): There is sufficient land on hands to meet our target of 25,000 acres—the target established by the late Deputy Joe Blowick as Minister for Lands.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan): There is sufficient land on hands to meet that target.
Question No. 35.