asked the Minister for Lands whether his Department is prepared to accept the offer of land at Ballymakalett, Ravensdale, Dundalk, for forestry purposes.

My Department is interested in the offer referred to by the Deputy but up to now progress towards the acquisition of the lands has been virtually impossible due to the fact that a commonage was involved. The Forestry Act, 1956, provides a solution to the difficulty regarding the commonage and I am getting this offer reviewed under the Act with the least possible delay.

asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that farmers residing at Killogrove and Canburin, Cahirciveen, have offered large areas of land for afforestation purposes, and that no inspection or survey of the lands is being undertaken by his Department, and whether he is now in a position to issue a decision on the matter.

My Department has received two offers of land totalling about 600 acres in the townland of Killogrove, County Kerry. Inspection will be carried out in the very near future.

A tentative offer of 200 acres was also received from a landholder in the townland of Canburing early in May and he was requested to furnish certain particulars about the lands; so far he has not replied to this request.

Would it be possible to have an inspection of the lands carried out again at an early date?

The offers are in two parts. One offer consists of two lots totalling 600 acres. An inspection of that will be carried out in the very near future. Another offer in the townland of Canburin—which, I presume, is not very far away from the first two offers I mentioned—was made two weeks ago. Certain communications were made to the owner of the land asking him to furnish certain information. So far, he has not replied. If the Deputy knows that person, perhaps a word to him might help to speed things up.

Would the Minister have the first two offers examined?

That will be done very shortly.

Within a month?