asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that the farm known as Pidgeon Park, U.2139, containing forty-seven acres, and being part of the lands of Moyglare, in the Barony of Upper Deece, County Meath, is advertised for sale by public auction on the 25th inst; that the Maynooth Back to the Land Association requested the Land Commission to acquire this farm for the relief of congestion about eighteen months ago, and that the owner, Mr. Owen Tighe, then pleaded that he required the holding for a dairy farm; that the Land Commission admitted this plea and decided not to acquire the farm, and whether, as Mr. Tighe does not intend to carry out the conditions on which he was allowed to retain it, the Land Commission will take steps for its acquisition before the sale.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PIDGEON PARK FARM (MEATH).
Mr. HOGAN
The acquisition of the lands referred to is under consideration by the Land Commission.
Is the Minister aware that this farm is being put up for sale to-morrow? This man was allowed to retain the farm because he required it for the purposes of a dairy farm. Now he is putting it up for sale. Surely the Department is not going to allow itself to be humbugged like that?
Mr. HOGAN
I have stated before that owners have a perfect right to sell their land. I state now that if the lands are of the sort that should be acquired by the Land Commission, they will be acquired whether sold or not. Incidentally, I see that this farm is one of forty-seven acres. I do not know enough about the special circumstances of the case to say that there might not be special reasons for taking even a small farm of forty-seven acres. Obviously the Deputy will not expect me to give an undertaking that no farm of forty-seven acres can be sold for any reason.
Surely the Department could take this farm if the owner has got another farm?
Are we to understand that Back-to-the-Land Associations are not to get preferential treatment?
Mr. HOGAN
Associations do not get preferential treatment.
Even the Cumann na nGaedheal?
Mr. HOGAN
No.