Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent the Department of Agriculture is responsible for the fencing around State forests in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. DunnThere is no legal obligation upon any landowner to erect boundary fencing unless the land is utilised for grazing livestock, when he is legally obliged to prevent his stock from straying on to neighbouring property. The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture does not normally own livestock and is, therefore, under no legal obligation to fence the boundary of the forest land it owns, although on a small number of areas of leased land it has accepted an obligation to maintain boundary fencing for the period of the lease. However, the Department seeks to maintain good relations with adjoining landowners, and boundary fencing on woodlands is normally erected and maintained jointly.