asked the Minister for Lands whether he has received any complaints concerning the present system of organising Arbour Day; whether it has been represented to him that the system is defective and unsatisfactory, and whether he will be prepared to consider the appointment of local committees representative of all the interests concerned and authorise them to prepare schemes suitable to local requirements for the planting of the several areas throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arbour Day's Unsatisfactory Results.
The arrangements made for the Arbour Day scheme this year were necessarily experimental. The scheme provided for the supply of a limited number of trees to each school for planting by the pupils in the school grounds, or on other suitable sites in the vicinity, and the Department were not aware of the extent to which the schools were likely to take up the scheme. A number of suggestions have been received for the improvement of the system of organisation, and these suggestions are receiving consideration.
The formation of local committees in connection with the planting of school grounds, etc., has already been suggested by this Department in the circular to the schools, but the Deputy would seem to contemplate the appointment of committees to deal with the planting of comparatively large areas in private ownership. It would be necessary to go very carefully into any proposal of this nature in view of the number of schemes already in existence, under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, for the supply of free trees or of trees at a reduced price.
It must not be forgotten that the object of Arbour Day is educational, and that its purpose can be achieved mainly through the medium of the schools of all types existing in the country.