asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will dispose of 38 acres of land owned by his Department near Galway harbour to Galway Harbour Commissioners and the IDA for port oriented industrial development as proposed in 1977; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

6.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if his Department will consider returning the 38 acres of land which it has in its possession to Galway Docks Board as the land is lying idle.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. The question of the disposal of the Department's property at Lough Atalia near Galway harbour is still under consideration.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, and extending the scope of Question No. 5, I should like to know what form of industrial development the Minister has in mind.

There are 53 acres held by my Department and we are considering whether to present that land to the Government to let them decide what to do with it. When a Department have land that they do not require they must offer it to any other Department before it can be put up for sale.

Do I understand from the Minister's reply that there are no specific proposals for industrial development on the lands in question?

None from my Department. We are considering what to do with the land and our proposal will be put to the Government in the near future.