asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that there are many thousands of acres of land in County Mayo which are suitable for forestry purposes; and what steps his Department propose to take to have these lands acquired and planted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Lands.
60.
In County Mayo, 37,000 acres of land have so far been acquired for forestry purposes and the Forestry Division of my Department has a further 21,000 acres under consideration.
Does the Minister appreciate that many more people would offer land to his Department if the Department paid for it more quickly? There is considerable delay in paying for land. The price is also a factor in the matter. Has he considered looking into these matters with a view to improving the position?
In my experience, the question of delay over paying the price has been due generally to title difficulties. Sometimes it is caused by the vendors or their advisers. In a normal case of purchase by the Forestry Department of land, there is no reason why these sales should not be closed straight away.
Could the Minister increase the prices being paid by his Department which have not been stepped up in years?
Ceilings have been, in fact, increased, during the past 18 months but, as the Deputy will appreciate, each case depends in itself on the type of property involved and the price will vary from place to place.
61.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will give particulars of the total number of acres acquired for forestry purposes during the past ten years (a) for County Limerick and (b) for the whole country; the number of acres planted; and the number of acres owned by the forestry division which are still unplanted.
The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will arrange to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:-
(a)
|
Year |
Area Acquired |
Area Planted |
|
|
Total |
Productive |
||
|
1957-58 |
754 |
665 |
254 |
|
1958-59 |
1,024 |
901 |
281 |
|
1959-60 |
401 |
346 |
701 |
|
1960-61 |
368 |
322 |
779 |
|
1961-62 |
116 |
101 |
612 |
|
1962-63 |
240 |
240 |
325 |
|
1963-64 |
382 |
379 |
322 |
|
1964-65 |
318 |
307 |
285 |
|
1965-66 |
284 |
253 |
424 |
|
1966-67 |
647 |
574 |
512 |
Nominal Plantable Reserve at 31-3-67: 742 acres.
(b)
|
Year |
Area Acquired |
Area Planted |
|
|
Total |
Productive |
||
|
1957-58 |
26,344 |
23,268 |
20,056 |
|
1958-59 |
28,654 |
25,244 |
22,891 |
|
1959-60 |
27,048 |
23,323 |
25,100 |
|
1960-61 |
29,169 |
25,504 |
26,069 |
|
1961-62 |
31,786 |
25,719 |
25,317 |
|
1962-63 |
25,379 |
23,446 |
24,708 |
|
1963-64 |
29,652 |
25,096 |
25,935 |
|
1964-65 |
27,978 |
21,004 |
25,054 |
|
1965-66 |
21,645 |
18,257 |
23,390 |
|
1966-67 |
23,821 |
18,313 |
20,028 |
The Nominal Plantable Reserve as at 31.3.67: 63,486 acres. The Nominal Plantable Reserve includes areas amounting in the aggregate to more than 10,000 acres which for various reasons are not immediately available for planting.