Jim Higgins
Ceist:93 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of hectares of trees under the different species in each of the counties.
Written Answers. - Tree Numbers.
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available.
A definitive assessment of the entire forest estate's composition, broken down by county and by species of which there are approximately 30, is only possible in the context of a detailed inventory. In the case of private woodlands, the last inventory was carried out in 1973. The inventory of Coillte forests is compiled largely on a district rather than a county basis.
Notwithstanding the constraints in existing databanks, I am arranging for an examination of that data and I shall communicate directly with the Deputy in the matter as soon as possible.