asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the timber on the Trabolgan and Rostellan estates, under the control of his Department, contains some thousands of over-matured trees; and whether he will arrange for the release of this timber to local people for fuel purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Timber Supplies.
The Clarke estate at Trabolgan—to which I presume the Deputy is referring—is private property. My Department has no power to secure the felling of trees thereon, for firewood or otherwise.
The Rostellan woodlands belong to the State and all suitable trees there— numbering over 2,000—have already been disposed of. It is essential to preserve the remaining trees for the present, as they are required as shelter, for the proper development of the forest.