asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what steps have been taken, if any, by the Land Commission to enable tenant holders under fee farm grants to purchase their holdings; if it is a fact that these tenants are not put on the same level as other tenant farmers, and if tenants under this category will be facilitated by putting them on the same level as other tenant farmers; and, further, if he will state what reduction fee farm grant tenants are entitled to under the Act of 1923.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - FEE FARM GRANT TENANTS AND LAND ACT.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
Mr. HOGAN
Order 22 of the Rules issued by the Land Commission on the 5th February, 1923, sets out the procedure which enables fee farm grantees to redeem their rents under Section 38 of the Land Act of 1923.
Persons holding under fee farm grants do not come within the definition of "tenanted land" under Section 73 (2) of the Land Act, 1923, and consequently are not entitled to the reduction given under Sections 19 and 20 of the same Act to tenants of holdings to which the Act applies, but instead thereof they have the special facilities given them in Section 38 of the Act to redeem their rents. To put fee farm grantees on the same level with tenants who come within the Act would require special legislation, which is not deemed necessary, as their case is considered to be adequately covered by the foregoing section