asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps he is taking to prevent the sale of land in congested areas to individuals for private forestry where there is a proven need for the land to make small farms viable.

29.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that the policy of the Land Commission is not preventing the development of private forestry in County Leitrim.

30.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals his Department have for the control of private afforestation.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 30 together.

The policy of the Land Commission in relation to the use of land for forestry is determined by such factors as the quality and location of the land and the structural needs of smallholders in the area. Each case is considered on its merits.

The final decision to acquire land in individual cases rests with the commissioners in whom this power is vested by law.

How much money is available this year for the purchase of land for forestry? Any time we make representations to the Minister for the purchase of land we are told that no land has been bought this year for forestry.

That is a separate question.

It is a separate question. For obvious reasons, I have not got that information because it is another Minister who is dealing with it.

Would the Minister agree that in years past some of the best farm land in the country was classified by the forestry section of the Department? All land should be examined before it is designated as forestry land rather than for agricultural use.

As Deputy Leonard says, over the years it could be argued that some potentially good agricultural land was planted by the Department of Forestry. There is a great deal of liaison, particularly at regional level and in the various counties between the Forestry and the Irish Land Commission. In recent times this relationship has been strengthened. I am not aware of good agricultural land that has been planted recently. This is for obvious reasons. The price the owners should expect to get for good land cannot in fact be paid by the Forestry Service.

Would the Minister agree that unless a thorough examination is made by the Department and the forestry officials we could very well reach the situation again in particular areas if there is not a demand for agricultural land that it could be offered to the Forestry Service and planted? There is no system at the moment by which land is examined and monitored in regard to whether it is suitable for agricultural land. It is possible in time to come, if land prices fall, that this land could be taken over for forestry.

I cannot foresee land prices falling to that level any time in the future or that there would be a great change of land usage.

Would the Minister agree with me that, since trees are just another crop like grass, blackcurrants, strawberries or anything else, it would be highly desirable to have the Department and the three Ministers present in the House at the moment deal with the whole question of afforestation like they do with all other crops produced?

That is a separate question. Provided there is a good liaison between the Departments of Fishery and Forestry and Agriculture there is not likely to be a breakdown in the link between those various sections.

Could the Minister say if the Land Commission have at any time over the past year or one-and-a-half years refused to sanction the sale of any land to the Department of Fisheries and Forestry for afforestation?

That seems to be a separate question.

That is a separate question and it would be unfair to me to mislead the House if I have not concrete proof of that.