asked the Minister for Lands if he has received offers of land for forestry in (1) Rathangan (2) Robertstown and (3) Timahoe areas, County Kildare; and what is the present position in regard to these offers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offers of Land for Forestry in Kildare Area.
43.
In the Rathangan district, the Forestry Division of my Department is dealing with two offers of land for afforestation totalling 223 acres. The lands have been inspected but some further investigations are necessary before a decision on their acquisition can be taken. In the Robertstown district possession is about to be taken of an area of 18 acres in the townland of Garvoge and there are 10 other areas totalling 230 acres on offer in the district. Agreement to purchase 5 of these areas totalling 100 acres has been reached with the owners and title is being cleared. Negotiations to purchase another area of 16 acres are in progress and the remaining cases are at the preliminary stages of investigation. In the Timahoe area the number of offers on hands is 24 involving a total of 566 acres. All of these cases are at the preliminary stages of investigation.
In the past 12 months the Forestry Division has acquired areas totalling 136 acres in the Robertstown district and 50 acres in the Timahoe district. Some of these lands are included in the planting programme for Donadea Forest for the current year.