To ask the Minister for Agriculture what steps the Government are taking, or intend to take, to compel owners of cut-away woods to replant the areas cut away, particularly areas cleared since the outbreak of the World War; and further in view of the great asset timber is to the Nation, what action the Government propose taking if it is not intended to compel owners to plant.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - REAFFORESTATION.
DOMHNALL O MOCHAIN
There is no provision in the existing law for compelling owners to replant land on which timber has been cut either since the outbreak of the European war in 1914 or previously. Any legislation introduced to grant the Government powers to enforce replanting could not be made retrospective without injustice to owners who may have leased or sold the land on which the timber stood, or who may have devoted it to other purposes. The Government are at present considering the issue of a Forestry Decree forbidding the felling of timber except under licence from the Forestry Branch, and it is proposed that such licences will not be granted unless the owner undertakes to replant within a reasonable time, except in those cases in which replanting is clearly unnecessary or is not conducive to the public interest. I may say that, as far as their own properties are concerned, the Government are doing all that is possible to promote afforestation not only by actual planting, but also by the maintenance of nurseries for raising young plants for distribution throughout the country.