asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that lands held and worked by occupying tenants do not come within the meaning of the term "tenanted land," because such tenants occupy holdings under "Fee Farm Grants," whether it is intended to introduce legislation rectifying this anomaly and to permit of arrears of rent under a Fee Farm Grant being compounded, in accordance with Section 20 of the Land Act, 1923.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - “TENANTED LAND.”
Mr. HOGAN
I am not aware that lands held and worked by occupying tenants do not come within the meaning of the term "tenanted land." I am aware, on the contrary, that the term "tenanted land" means, under the Land Act, 1923, land held and worked by occupying tenants. Fee Farm Grantees are not tenants; they are Fee Farm Grantees. A very large number of the landlords from whom we will be acquiring land compulsorily for the purposes of the Act, hold their land under Fee Farm Grants or long leases. Therefore, the same terms could not be given to Fee Farm Grantees as are being given to tenants. The Land Act, 1923, however, makes special provision for Fee Farm Grantees who hold land which the Land Commission do not require for re-sale to congests. As explained already under Section 38 of the Act, these Grantees are enabled to redeem their head rents. They could not get the benefits of the provisions of the arrears Sections; the arrears Sections were framed for the relief of tenants.
Arising out of that answer, I would like to ask the Minister for Agriculture if the Land Commission has compulsory power to force the owners of those Fee Farm Grants to sell the land to the Fee Farm Grantees, or if it is only optional in the circumstances?
Mr. HOGAN
There is no question of forcing the owner to sell to the tenant in any case. But it is optional. The tenant may apply to the Land Commission, apart from the wishes of the landlord to have the rent redeemed, and the Judicial Commissioner must fix the redemption price. The Land Commission will then make an advance to the Fee Farm Grantee or Lessee for the amount of the advance necessary to redeem it. It is a matter entirely for the Grantee, and it does not concern the Land Commission.