asked the Minister for Fisheries the number of acres his Department have in their possession in the Connemara area, County Galway; and the number of acres it is intended to acquire and to plant this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Connemara Afforestation.
1.
As forestry statistics are not maintained on a regional basis I am taking the State Forests at Ballinahinch, Cloosh Valley, Maam Valley, Oughterard and Ross as representing the Connemara area. On that basis there was a total forest holding of 35,398 acres in the area at 31 December 1977, and the planting programme for the current year totals 1,537 acres. It is anticipated that about 2,600 acres will be acquired during the present year.