asked the Minister for Defence if the farm at Lusk, known as the Lusk Remount Farm, is still under the control of his Department; if he can state what is the acreage of that farm; what use is at present being made of it; how many men are employed there; whether any proportion of it is set under the eleven months' system for grazing, and what proportion, if any, has been brought under tillage, and whether he is aware that there is a large number of unemployed agricultural labourers in that area.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LUSK REMOUNT FARM.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
The Lusk Farm referred to is still under the control of the Department of Defence. It contains 106 Irish acres, including the area occupied by buildings. About 70 acres are let annually by auction for grazing, mainly to small holders, on the eleven months system.
Owing to the destruction of many of the farm buildings, it has not been possible to farm the lands as in former days, but land other than that let for grazing is put under cultivation. An extension of tillage will occur this year. Eight to ten acres are being ploughed for corn.
A working foreman and two labourers are employed to work the farm. With increase of tillage this year there may be an opportunity of giving employment to some of the unemployed agricultural labourers referred to by the Deputy.
Is there any intention to distribute any of this land to the men in that area who are capable of working it?
I do not know. We have not handed over the land yet. We were not in a position to hand over the land, or any portion of it, pending the laying on the Table of a Schedule under the State Lands Act—until forty days from about ten days ago. We will then be in a position to deal with the land.