asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of County Offaly the number of acres and the location of land (1) purchased by his Department for forestry purposes, (2) already planted, and (3) in course of preparation for planting; and whether his Department have negotiations with private owners to purchase for forestry purposes, and, if so, the acreage and location of such lands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Forestry Lands.
34.
There are two State Forestry centres in County Offaly, Kinnitty and Tullamore. The productive area of Kinnitty Forest is 3,138 acres of which a total of 2,584 acres has been planted to date. Further areas totalling 158 acres will be planted in the current season at Glendossaun, Clonbeale, Castlebernard and Glenafelly. The productive area of Tullamore State Forest comprises 1,086 acres of which a total of 807 acres has been planted to date. A programme of 144 acres planting at Killooly and Aghanvilla will be undertaken at this Forest in the current season.
As regards acquisition prospects for forestry in County Offaly the position is that at a recent date agreement to purchase 5 areas totalling 342 acres had been reached and title was in course of clearance. Negotiations were in progress for the purchase of 8 other areas totalling 1,013 acres and in addition there were 53 cases involving a total acreage of 2,181 acres at the preliminary stages of investigation.