asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether it is the intention of the Department to proceed with a scheme of afforestation at Thomastown, on the main road between Athlone and Ballinasloe; whether the Department, in a letter dated 4th December, 1924, No. 587/F., stated they would be pleased to receive from the Roscommon County Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction particulars of lands available for afforestation of not less than 300 acres in extent; whether such a plot has not been offered at a reasonable price by John D. Naghten, of Thomastown, and can the Minister state the reason for the delay in proceeding with the scheme.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - AFFORESTATION IN ROSCOMMON.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he is aware that as a result of inquiries made by me some time ago concerning 300 acres of land at Thomastown, near Athlone, the property of Mr. Naghten, a communication was received stating that although the price and quality of the land offered was reasonable, his Department did not consider the acreage sufficient for forestry purpose, and if he will state if the Department still hold this view, and, if not, will he take steps to have the matter taken in hands and the planting done immediately.
Mr. HOGAN
I propose to deal with these two questions together. The reply to the first portion of Deputy O'Dowd's question is in the negative. In the letter referred to, the Department informed the Committee that they would be glad to receive particulars of lands available for afforestation, conforming to certain conditions specified in the letter, one of which was that any blocks of land offered should not be less than 300 acres in extent. The land offered by Mr. Naghten is estimated to contain 245 acres. It consists of an irregular block of good grazing land, partly covered with timber and seedlings, but not differing in quality from the better portions of the farm. The quality and use of the land in the vicinity would preclude its acquisition for afforestation purposes, and the Department, having decided that the area would not be suitable as the nucleus of an afforestation area, have refused Mr. Naghten's offer.
In regard to Deputy Brennan's question, the communication sent to him by the Department in reply to a written inquiry did not state that the price and quality of the land offered were reasonable, but intimated that the plot was not sufficiently large to form an economic forest centre.
Does the Minister consider that 240 acres is not enough to start a forestry station?
Mr. HOGAN
That is a very technical question, and I am informed, and believe the evidence, that 300 acres is about the minimum economic unit. There is also this to be said about these lands, that there is no other suitable land in the neighbourhood which would be likely to fall into the hands of the Department to add to them at a later date. That is the real trouble.