asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of each county (a) the total area of forests planted by the State since 1922, (b) the total area actually acquired for future planting, and (c) the total area of land which is on offer but which has not yet been dealt with.
Written Answers. - Forestry Operations.
The information sought by the Deputy at (a) and (b) of his question is not yet available on a county by county basis for the full period up to 31st March, 1956. When figures for each county are taken out, I will communicate with the Deputy. In the meantime, the following figures for the country as a whole may be of use to the Deputy:—
(a) Total area of State Plantations at 31st March, 1956 |
220,000 acres |
(b) Plantable reserve at 31st March, 1956 |
49,049 ,, |
(c) Total area acquired in half-year ended 30th Sept., 1956 |
10,311 ,, |
(d) Offers accepted and title being cleared at 30th September, 1956 |
34,120 acres |
(e) Negotiations in hands at 30th September, 1956 |
118,232 ,, |
(f) Offers in preliminary stages (awaiting inspection etc.) at 30th Sept., 1956 |
166,674 ,, |
The area quoted for the last group is tentative—it is frequently found that people making offers overstate grossly the area of the land which they are prepared to make available for forestry purposes.