asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that there is concern by the forestry workers in County Kerry regarding the scarcity of State land for planting; and if he will make arrangements for the purchase of all land suitable for planting and on offer to his Department in the county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Forestry Land.
86.
I can give the Deputy an absolute assurance that the Forestry Division will negotiate for the purchase of all land on offer and suitable for afforestation purposes in County Kerry.
Would the Minister agree that a lot of the difficulties in regard to purchase by the Forestry Division arise because people are reluctant to sell owing to legal difficulties and long delays ranging in some cases from three to five to eight and even to ten years? Would the Minister agree that a form of purchase similar, say, to that in relation to lands being acquired by a council for road-widening purposes might have a very beneficial effect? In a lot of these purchases, the consideration is quite small and some simpler system of purchase might well be arranged. Perhaps the Minister will discuss this or have his Department discuss it with the Incorporated Law Society with a view to adopting a more speedy means of settling these cases?
While this is a separate matter from that raised in the question itself, I agree that the present system does involve delays. I am having the whole question of the present machinery examined and hope to say something about it in the near future.