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.