asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of acres of mountain land planted in 1983; and his plans for forestry planting in 1984.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountain Land Afforestation.
6.
Planting records are not compiled by reference to the different land categories involved. The total area planted in 1983, including reafforestation, was approximately 7,000 hectares. The corresponding figure for 1984 is expected to be 6,700 hectares.
Can the Minister of State now give the approximate acreage reserve in his Department at present?
I cannot give the exact amount but, subject to correction, my understanding is that it was 22,000 acres as at the middle of last year. The intake of land has been much the same since, so I presume that the reserve is much the same. I could be out a few acres, one way or the other.
The Minister of State will recognise that the land reserve is at a critically low level. Has he any plans to accelerate land acquisition for 1984 to enable land to be available for future plantation?
I accept that the land reserve, at 22,000 acres, is at a very low stage. Plans are being considered by the Department at the moment. I am hopeful that these proposals will be accepted. They are specifically to improve the land pool situation for planting.
Could the Minister of State give us some more details on the plan? Is the plan before the Government at present, how long has it been there and when is it likely to be decided on?
The proposals are being considered by the appropriate Ministers, Finance and Agriculture. They are hopeful that they will be before the Government in the next couple of weeks. I cannot give the details of the proposals because——
What is their general nature?
I would rather refrain from giving their general nature at this stage. The Government have not as yet given them consideration and until that happens it would be wrong of me to give details.
Could the Minister of State give us some idea of whether they were submitted by him?
The proposals were drawn up by myself and my Department.
What is their general nature?
It is a partnership or leasing arrangement I am hoping to carry out with land owners. That is as far as I can go.
What is the Minister and his Department generally trying to achieve? Is the purpose to increase substantially the land reserve? Is that the general intent of the proposals in mind?
The whole basis of afforestation is the amount of plantable land made available to my Department. That is the main purpose of the proposals.