asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the need for additional land in the forestry areas of South Tipperary and West Water-ford; and what steps are being taken to ensure continuity of employment for the workers concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Forestry Land.
28.
A special campaign to acquire more land for forestry purposes is under way. In the Deputy's constituency and elsewhere throughout the country, more vigorous efforts than ever before are being made to acquire additional land. As the House is aware, a new system of land valuation is in operation and the former ceiling-price for forest land has been removed. Our acquisition procedures have been streamlined with a view to minimising delays in acquisition.
All these measures will assist towards giving greater stability in employment.
May we take it that there will be a continuance of employment and that no redundancy is envisaged in my constituency in respect of the shortage of land?
As I have said, I am very anxious to get as much land as possible so as to avoid redundancy in that or any other part of the country, but I am sure the Deputy is aware that there is considerable difficulty in getting sufficient land. When I spoke on the Estimate for the Department recently, I appealed to Deputies to make any recommendations they could to me in respect of land in their constituencies so that we could get after it as quickly as possible.