asked the Taoiseach if he will provide estimates of the distribution of the land area within the State between agricultural, forestry, urban and other uses since 1960; and the estimated annual average net transfer of agricultural land to other uses over this period.
Written Answers. - Land Distribution.
172.
Following is the information requested by the Deputy in so far as it is available:
|
1960 |
1975 |
Net |
Change |
|||
|
Total |
Annual |
|||||
|
000 acres |
||||||
|
Area of State |
17,023.7 |
17,023.7 |
— |
— |
||
|
of which — on agricultural holdings (1) |
14,296.1 |
13,856.1 |
- |
440.0 |
- |
29.3 |
|
— State-owned forest properties (2) |
420.4 |
827.6 |
+ |
407.2 |
+ |
27.1 |
|
— Other (3) |
2,307.2 |
2,340.0 |
+ |
32.8 |
+ |
2.2 |
Notes:
(1) The area on agricultural holdings is derived from the five-yearly Census of Agriculture conducted by the Central Statistics Office. The latest census was undertaken in June 1975. This area comprises all land forming part of agricultural holdings including any roads, farmyards, bog, marsh, rough grazing, woods etc. which may be on holdings.
(2) The area of State-owned forest properties, which was obtained from data published by the Forest and Wildlife Service of the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, relates to the position at the end of each year.
(3) Other land is derived as a residual and is the difference between the total area of the State and the sum of the areas on holdings and on State-owned forest properties. Further details of the use of this land are not available.