andMr. Brady asked the Minister for Lands if he will consider the planting of trees in the Glenasmole Valley, County Dublin, to assist in the control of flooding by the River Dodder and to provide employment in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Glenasmole Valley Tree Planting.
36.
The Forestry Division of my Department would be very glad to undertake planting in the Glenasmole Valley if offers of suitable land were forthcoming. I am informed, however, that the landowners concerned are not prepared to dispose of their holdings for State Forestry purposes.
I understand the Minister has compulsory powers. In view of the fact that when he was discussing his Estimate last year, he said at column——
Quotations may not be made at question time.
The Minister said he understood that many experts said if a parcel of land used for sheep grazing were planted, the remaining land would be able to graze an even greater number of sheep. In view of this, has the Minister any powers he could use to improve the sheep grazing and also deal with this very serious problem of flooding ?
It is not considered desirable to acquire land for forestry purposes compulsorily, but officers of the forestry division, at the request of Dublin Corporation, did make a really serious effort to persuade some of the owners of land bordering the Glenasmole Valley to sell their land. Unfortunately, they refused to do so, although all the advantages were pointed to them. The matter would seem to be one for the Dublin Corporation.