asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the total area acquired for afforestation in the Woodford area, County Galway, and the total area of arable land so acquired.
77.
Written Answers. - Woodford (Galway) Forestry Lands.
76.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will consider selling a local applicant (Dept. Ref. 40661/F) a small portion of the State forest lands in Derrylahan which is required by the applicant to make his holding economic, having regard to the fact that a number of families have already had to leave the area in question because their holdings were uneconomic.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.
The total productive area held by the Forestry Division of my Department for forestry purposes in the Woodford district is 3,349 acres, of which a total of 3,005 acres has been planted to date. Of the balance not yet planted, only two small separate plots in Derrylahan townland, comprising in all about 12 acres, are considered to be of arable quality. They were included in lands transferred from the Land Commission many years ago and form an integral part of the property. For many years they were let to a former estate employee. When the need for this arrangement ceased it was decided to plant them but they were let in the ordinary way for a further period pending arrangements for planting.
It would not be practicable to dispose of them.