asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that a very large number of land owners in Meath, particularly in Dunshaughlin Rural District, failed to comply with the provisions of Part I. of the Weeds and Agricultural Seeds (Ireland) Act, 1909; whether any inspections were made of the lands in Meath for the purpose of ensuring the destruction of noxious weeds, and whether it is the intention of the Department of Agriculture to institute prosecutions against offenders.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WEEDS AND AGRICULTURAL SEEDS ACT IN MEATH.
Mr. HOGAN
Inspections were made of the lands in County Meath for the purpose of ensuring the destruction of noxious weeds, and from reports received I am aware that there were in this county 532 holdings on which noxious weeds were growing. In 273 of these the occupiers satisfied the Department's Inspectors that they would voluntarily destroy the weeds. In 259 cases notices under the Weeds and Agricultural Seeds (Ireland) Act, 1909, requiring the destruction of the weeds within a specified time, were served upon the occupiers, and 39 of these notices were issued in Dunshaughlin Rural District, which is specially referred to in the question. After a final inspection it was found that in only two cases in the county the occupiers had not destroyed the weeds or started on the work of destruction, and in these cases prosecutions are being instituted. One of the farmers to be prosecuted is in the Dunshaughlin Rural District.