asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (1) the area of lands purchased for afforestation in County Mayo in each of the years, 1955, 1956 and 1957, (2) the area planted in these years and (3) the acreage and location of lands proposed to be planted this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Forestry Lands.
The total areas acquired by my Department for afforestation purposes in County Mayo in the years referred to were as follows: 1955, 2,963 acres; 1956, 1,026 acres; 1957, 1,325 acres.
In 1955 the total area planted in the county was 517 acres, in 1956, 831 acres and in 1957, 1,101 acres.
In the current planting season it is intended to plant a total of 1,299 acres, distributed over the various forests in the county as follows: Ballycastle, 246 acres; Croagh Patrick, 110 acres; Doolough, 192 acres; Foxford, 149 acres; Glenamoy, 70 acres; Glenisland, 118 acres; Nephin Beg, 172 acres; Nephin Mor, 144 acres, and Tourmakeady, 98 acres.
Would the Minister disclose to the House the information which I am sure must have been given by him to the Fianna Fáil Party, in view of the fact that the members of that Party have so many questions down to-day about forestry, and considering that Party for 19 years showed no interest in forestry?
The Deputy is talking absolute nonsense. It was the Fianna Fáil Party which initiated the main forestry programme. That programme was interrupted—I am not going to be shouted down by any Deputy in the Opposition—during the war owing to the difficulty of procuring rabbit netting.
Nobody wants to shout down the Minister because every time he opens his mouth, he causes trouble for Fianna Fáil.
There was forestry in Ireland before the Danes came. Do not try to tell us those things.