asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the landlord of the Dobbe estate, situate at Donadea, is taking proceedings against the tenants to enforce payment in full of turbary rents and arrears of same; whether eighty of those tenants have poor law valuations of £5 and under; whether their inability to pay the landlord's demands is due to the fact that they have been unable to save their turf this season, on the sale of which commodity they rely for a means of livelihood; whether in view of those circumstances, which also affect other estates in Co. Kildare, notably the Verschoyle property at Kilberry, Athy, he is prepared to bring about such amendment in the Land Act as will afford protection to tenants of this class.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - DONADEA TURBARY RENTS.
I have received no communications and no information relative to the turbary rents in the district mentioned. I am not aware that any large number of tenants anywhere have failed to save their turf this season. I have no information in connection with the Poor Law Valuations of the eighty tenants referred to. If their Poor Law Valuations are £5 and under they will be dealt with under the 1923 Land Act, their holdings will be made economic, and they will be provided with turbary, so far as there is land and bog available. I do not consider it necessary to introduce legislation to deal with tenants who take turbary from year to year outside their holdings, and I have no intention of introducing a Bill for amendment of the Land Act.
Arising out of the Minister's answer, might I ask if he would be so good as to look into some documents I have relative to the Verschoyle Estate. I hold these documents in my possession. They reveal a state of things which one would imagine would be impossible except in a state of feudalism.
Mr. HOGAN
If I get the documents and the particulars I will have them investigated.