524 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself that the country's existing forestry land resource is fully utilised in the context of the acquisition of additional land for forestry; the total area of land currently under State management; and the percentage of land producing wellmanaged commercial crops. [1105/97]

The Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector, published by me last year, advanced a most compelling economic and social case for the undertaking of a major afforestation programme over a 35 year period or so. The plan provides for both Coillte Teoranta and private planters undertaking afforestation with the aim of doubling the country's current level of forest area of approximately 600,000 hectares to 1.2 million hectares over that period. Some one million hectares of land here, predominantly wet mineral soils, have been identified as being particularly suitable for afforestation.