asked the Minister for Fisheries the proposals his Department have for the planting of additional lands in County Galway; the total acreage of land held by his Department and not yet planned; the average price per acre paid by his Department for land; and the total income from sales of timber in County Galway for each of the years 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Planting Lands.
7.
It is proposed to plant 1,100 hectares in County Galway in the current planting season. Future planting programmes will be determined, in the context of a national planting programme of 10,000 hectares, by the area available for planting in the county.
The overall nominal plantable reserve of land held by my Department on the 31st December, 1975, was 37,992 hectares. While the final figure at the end of 1976 is not yet available it would be of the same order. However, a substantial part of this nominal reserve is not immediately available for planting for a variety of reasons. The average price at which agreement to sell was reached in the last quarter of 1976 was £71 per hectare or £29 per acre.
Details of income from timber sales in County Galway are not available as sales statistics are not kept on a county basis. The total income from timber sales rose from £1.7 million in the year 1973-74 to £2.9 million in 1976.
The Minister mentioned a price of £29 per acre. That is very small when one considers the high price of land at present. Does the Minister not consider that if his Department increased the price more land would become available for forestry?
The price mentioned was an average price. The amount paid for land can vary from £130 per acre downwards. The position is that this land is not arable agricultural land. It is planting land for trees and, as such, it has a low agricultural value. Land like this is often on the top of a mountain. Therefore, it can be said it would not be too bad a bargain.
Did the Minister mention a figure of £100 per acre?
I said the price paid for land can vary. In some cases it may be £130 per acre where site conditions are very favourable but it would be much less where land of poor quality is on offer.
Will the Minister tell the House the areas where £130 per acre is paid? It certainly does not happen in my county.
The average price at which agreement to sell was reached in County Galway in the quarter ending 31st December, 1976, was £22 per acre.
There has been no case in County Galway where £130 per acre was paid.