asked the Minister for Lands (a) the total area of land on offer for afforestation purposes in County Waterford, (b) the areas in which these lands are located, (c) what areas have been considered for acquisition, and (d) the number of men currently employed in these areas.

There are at present 220 areas totalling 7,904 acres on offer to my Department for afforestation purposes in County Waterford. Agreement to purchase has been reached in the case of 62 of these areas totalling 1,964 acres and title is in course of clearance. Negotiations to purchase are in progress with the owners of another 79 areas totalling 2,354 acres. The remaining cases are at the preliminary stages of investigation.

The number of men at present employed at the County Waterford forests is 310.

Owing to the large number of cases involved, it would be impracticable to give details of the location of lands on offer.

32.

asked the Minister for Lands (a) the productive area of the Forestry Division of his Department in County Waterford at the end of the last planting season, (b) how much of this area has been planted, and (c) what further areas it is expected will be planted in the current season.

The productive area of land held by the Forestry Division of my Department in County Waterford on 31st March, 1962, was 25,778 acres, of which 23,254 acres had been planted.

Areas totalling 1,294 acres are scheduled for planting at County Waterford forests in the current season.