asked the Minister for Lands if any assessment has been made in recent years of the amount of land available or suitable for forestry purposes in County Longford.
28.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Lands.
27.
asked the Minister for Lands if any assessment has been made in recent years of the amount of land available or suitable for forestry purposes in County Westmeath.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.
The answer to both questions is in the negative.
Might I ask the Minister if he has any plans in his Department for any assessment such as I have asked for in the counties I have mentioned?
While no assessment has been made in recent years the Forestry and Wildlife Service are generally aware of the location of land in both counties suitable for forestry purposes. Particulars of land acquired in each of the two counties in the last three years are as follows: Longford, 290 acres in 1974; 155 acres in 1975 and 159 acres in 1976. Westmeath, 282 acres in 1974; 216 acres in 1975 and 123 acres in 1976. Acquisition proceedings were pending in respect of these counties on the 31st December as follows: Longford, 1,916 acres; price agreement stage reached on 370 acres of that. Westmeath, 4,383 acres; price agreement stage reached on 740 acres of that. That is the best information I have.