asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in view of the very small acreage of land secured in (a) County Cavan and (b) County Monaghan for afforestation and the finding of the EC/NERDO survey which recommends the utilisation of larger acres of suitable marginal land, the action he proposes to take on the matter.
Written Answers. - State Afforestation Programme.
39.
Acquisition of land for the State afforestation programme is dependent on offers of land made to any Department for that purpose. Offers in Counties Cavan and Monaghan have been limited in number and in area, but those which have to come to hand have been given full consideration by my Department as will any future offers. There is, however, considerable scope for private sector involvement in forestry in these counties and very favourable grants for forestry are available under the western package. My Department have just concluded an intensive publicity campaign aimed at stimulating increased interest in private forestry and I am hopeful that this will result in an expansion of planting in the counties in question.