asked the Minister for Energy in view of the intensive afforestation programme proposed by his Department and the preponderance of coniferous planting within this programme, if he will consider the transfer of lands from the Land Commission to his Department for deciduous planting; and if he wil make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation Programme.
18.
The Forest Service of my Department are in communication with the Land Commission with a view to assessing the potential of remaining lands held by that body for afforestation purposes. Indications are that very little, if any, of these lands will be found to be suitable for commercial planting.
The areas now held by the Land Commission comprise for the most part small and widely scattered parcels the development, planting and management of which would be uneconomic in forestry terms. The better quality plots which would be required for deciduous trees are generally located in farming districts where there is very keen demand for agricultural land. However, the investigation is continuing.
In view of the EC policy to set land aside, it is difficult to understand why there could be such demand for certain parcels of land given that the Land Commission have been trying for a number of years to dispose of an outstanding land bank. As some of the areas the Minister spoke about are so small and scattered, how can he justify this in relation to the programme his Department are advancing for afforestation in disadvantaged areas, where areas beyond two hectares may be grant aided?
I will answer the second part of the Deputy's question first. The Deputy is probably not distinguishing clearly between private afforestation and State afforestation. In relation to the western package, all the grants and incentives are primarily aimed at encouraging farmers and non-farmers who own land to afforest their land and in that instance grants are available for the size of land the Deputy mentioned. That is not to be construed as meaning that the State or the new company could be involved in the acquisition of very small parcels of land for the same purpose. We are very anxious to encourage the private development of land.
In relation to the earlier part of the Deputy's question, about 45,000 hectares held by the Land Commission at the moment are unallocated and only about 4,000 or 5,000 hectares are in good land areas. Representing a rural constituency, I am a little surprised the Deputy is suggesting that there would not be interest among farmers, particularly small farmers, in the reallocation of those lands for conventional farming purposes.
In view of what the Minister has said and taking into account that the EC have set aside policy for agricultural land, will the Minister consider that the Government have a responsibility to plant deciduous trees for which there is no commercial return for a private individual?
The set aside policy which has been agreed by the EC refers precisely to arable land and in the cereals base of the agricultural demesne. I accept that we all have responsibility for maintaining and improving deciduous stock in the country. In the Forest Service, I have increased the percentage of deciduous trees and we will try to maintain that trend. We have also introduced new grants for the private sector, taking into account that this is a long-term operation, and many of these grants are being taken up by the private sector at the moment.
20.
asked the Minister for Energy if it is his intention to retain the function of land acquisition for forestry purposes within his Department.
The new company whose establishment is proposed in the Forestry Bill, 1988, will have the necessary powers in their memorandum and articles of association to acquire land for forestry in the same way as any other company.
The power to acquire land which I have in the Forestry Act, 1946, will be retained for the present. This power is availed of by the Wildlife Service to acquire land for wildlife purposes.
Is the power to acquire land by the new forestry company, which was referred to by the Minister, specified in the Bill?
No. It will be contained in the memorandum and articles of association, which is normal practice.
Is the Minister prepared to specify this in the Bill?
As I indicated in my reply on Second Stage, all the developments regarding the funding of the company clearly indicate the necessity to continue to acquire land for further afforestation. The principle in the Bill is to continue down that road and I do not see a need specifically to include this in the Bill when it is already in the memorandum and articles of association.