asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in regard to the West Galway area, the acreage of land (a) offered for sale to the Forestry Branch of his Department for afforestation purposes, and (b) planted by that branch, during the periods (i) 1st April, 1948, to 31st March, 1951, and (ii) 1st April, 1951, to 31st March, 1954.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Galway and Cork Afforestation.
Seán Mac Eochagáin
The comparative figures of area offered requested by the Deputy are not readily available. Eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-five acres were actually acquired for forestry purposes in West Galway during the period 1st April, 1948, to 31st March, 1951; 2,778 acres were acquired in the period 1st April, 1951, to 31st March, 1954.
Two thousand, six hundred and sixty-four acres were planted at West Galway forests during the six year period in question and of this area 2,355 acres is the answer to part (b) (ii) of the question.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of the Woodstown, Passage East and Faith-legg areas of County Waterford:—(1) the total acreage of land offered for sale to the Forestry Branch of his Department for afforestation, (2) the acreage acquired by that branch, and (3) the acreage for the acquisition of which negotiations are at present in progress.
A total of 543 acres has been offered to my Department for forestry purposes in the districts mentioned. Most of the areas have been inspected but negotiations have not yet been put in hands for any of these areas. Their distance from the nearest existing forest properties made it necessary to consider their acquisition on the basis of the general issue of starting a new forest in the area.
It is hoped that it will be possible to open negotiations shortly.