asked the Minister for Lands if he will allocate the timber cut in the Ballyhooly woods to the local authority for distribution among the deserving poor of the Ballyhooly, Fermoy, Castletownroche and Glanworth areas at a reasonable price.

A quantity of firewood logs is available at Ballyhooly State Forest for sale to the local authority or to any other person or body prepared to pay a reasonable price for the firewood.

Is the Minister aware that the people of that locality consider the price of timber entirely too high, and will he take any steps to have it reduced?

There is a quantity of firewood available there. The price seems to be reasonable, but it could be reduced, if necessary if there was a really good case put up for it.

The price of firewood sold by the Forestry Department is £2 in the woods.

I am not aware of that.