§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether any portion of the loan grant for afforestation has been applied in the province of Ulster; how much has been spent under the Department of Agriculture on afforestation in Ireland to date, and how much is available still for this object; and how much has been, or is in contemplation of being, spent in county Cavan, which has been severely denuded of timber in recent years?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLSo far, no area of a nature and extent suitable for inclusion in the forestry scheme financed from the Development Fund has been offered to the Department in Ulster, and, consequently, no portion of the advance from the fund for afforestation has been expended in that province. The total expenditure by the Department (including2378W advances of £36,507 on their behalf by the Estates Commissioners) on the purchase and afforestation of land and the training of foresters up to 31st December, 1914, was £106,692. Of the advance of £25,000 by way of loan from the Development Fund for the purchase of land for afforestation, £19,267 has been expended. By direction of the Treasury, purchase operations are I at present suspended. A sum of £6,000 has been provided annually in the Department's Parliamentary Estimates since the year 1910 for the purchase, management and development of woodlands—remnants of estates which have been dealt with by the Estates Commissioners. By means of this Vote one area was acquired in County Cavan in the year 1910. No expenditure on forestry, other than that required for the maintenance and development of this area, is at present contemplated in County Cavan.