asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the total area planted with ash and (b) the amount of ash cut during each of the five years ended 31st March, 1959, in Counties Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kildare, Leix and Kilkenny.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ash Plantations in Leinster Counties.
15.
Separate statistics for the felling of ash in the State Forests are not readily available.
The total numbers of ash trees planted in the Forests in the counties mentioned by the Deputy in the five years ended 31st March, 1959, were as follows:—1954/55—111,900, 1955/ 56—105,100, 1956/57—26,800, 1957/ 58—29,900 and 1958/59—21,200. Ash is seldom planted pure and it would, therefore, be misleading to quote equivalent area figures.
In the same period felling licences issued to private landowners in the counties in question permitted the felling of 4,300 ash trees and replanting conditions imposed in the licences provided (inter alia) for the replanting of 8,300 ash trees. In addition, of course, some ash would have been included in private planting carried out independently in those counties.
On the general subject of ash, I would like to say that, as far as my Department is aware, the volume of ash coming on the market, both from State and private sources, is adequate to meet the demand. If any difficulty in getting ash is experienced in any area my Department will give any assistance possible. The planting of ash in the State Forests, while necessarily limited because of the high quality of land required for the species, is adequate to meet any requirements for ash in the future.