asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that many farmers fail to purchase lands, which are purchased by his Department for forestry purposes, because the lands are not offered for sale by public auction; and if his Department is prepared to allow local farmers to acquire such lands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Land Purchases.
32.
The forest and wildlife service of my Department are concerned with the implementation of State policy on afforestation and with this end in view they are in the market for the purchase of lands voluntarily on offer to them and which are found suitable for afforestation purposes. It is not the policy to acquire lands which investigation reveals may be more suitably devoted to agricultural usage, and there is no question of local farmers being debarred from acquiring such lands.
It is a coincidence that a deputation from Leitrim who were concerned with this problem have just left the House. In many areas people who hold a small portion of land have been hoping at a later date to acquire further lands but they discover the lands have been sold to the Department of Lands for forestry purposes. The forestry section rarely give way when such land is signed over to them. Before the present Minister's term in office a circular was received from the Department of Lands stating that any time a genuine case was brought to the notice of the Department it would be sympathetically considered. However, despite the fact that I have brought genuine cases to the notice of the Department I have never yet seen this happen. In many cases the lands could be usefully taken over by local farmers but it never happened. I do not want to make a speech on this but it is quite true that a deputation which came from Leitrim in connection with this matter have just left the public gallery.
I consider this is a serious matter. Would the Minister not agree that there is discontent and concern expressed by people when the forestry section of his Department plant arable land? Several Deputies have made representations to the Minister and to his Department in connection with the matter. I am warning the Minister unless something is done serious action will be taken by those who are aggrieved.
Is it not true that the reason the forestry section are not getting land is due to the fact that they are not paying an adequate price for it? I agree with Deputy Creed's point regarding the acquisition of arable land by the forestry section.
Arising out of Deputy McLaughlin's speech and Deputy Creed's question, I should like to remind Deputy McLaughlin, who asked the question that this is about land not offered for public auction. Question No. 32 relates to lands not offered for sale by public auction and I do not know if there is anything I can do about that matter. If the lands are in the market and offered directly to the forestry service, to the Department of Lands or anyone else, I do not think there is anything I can do about that. Deputy Creed's question is totally different. It is that having acquired land the Forestry Division are unsympathetic——
Very much so.
——to applications by local farmers for portions thereof. This is also so. That is a matter of policy and a matter which might be examined as to whether or not that policy should be in any way changed.
Portion of this land going to some local farmers would mean many farmers remaining on the land instead of selling out.
What about Deputy Allen's question?
The answer to Deputy Allen is that the Forestry Division are paying an adequate price.