asked the Minister for Lands the cause of the delay in finalising the purchase of the Blackstairs Mountains, County Wexford which has been the subject of negotiations for some 20 years; the area involved; and when it is proposed to commence planting.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Planting of Blackstairs Mountains.
21.
These lands involve an area of 2,980 acres and the proceedings in settling with the large number of claimants to rights thereon were necessarily slow and tedious. Legal proceedings had to be instituted in the case of one of the claimants and, until these proceedings have been concluded, it is not possible to state when planting will commence.
Could the Minister say how long negotiations were going on with this one individual?
I do not know; I am not clear on that.
I can tell the Minister— 20 years.
There have been all sorts of proceedings involved as well, High Court injunctions, and so on.