asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if the result of inquiries made by the Land Commission as to the suitability of the following lands in the Ballymore-Eustace area, Co. Kildare, are yet available, the lands of H. O. C. Henchy, Lady Morris Estate, Mountcashel, in the townland of Ballymore-Eustace West, consisting of two hundred and seventeen acres; the lands of Mrs. Elizabeth Langton, in the townland of Broadleas Commons, consisting of forty-one acres, and the lands of Mr. Edward Hornidge, in the townland of Silverhills, consisting of seventy-five acres, and whether he can expedite the acquisition and division of those lands.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ACQUISITION OF CO. KILDARE ESTATES.
Mr. HOGAN
The Land Commission have had the lands of Ballymore-Eustace West, on the estate of Lady Morris, inspected, and have decided to take no action with reference thereto. Inquiries are being made as regards the untenanted lands on the Langton and Hornidge Estates, but they have not yet been completed.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission in acquiring the following lands on the La Touche Estate, near Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, consisting of eighty-three acres in the townland of Rochestown, two hundred and sixty-two acres in the townland of Harristown, ninety-four acres in the townland of Dunstown, three hundred and forty-two acres in the townland of Carnalway, and two hundred and forty-three acres in the townland of Brannoxtown, for the relief of congestion, and whether he will expedite the acquisition and division of these lands.
Mr. HOGAN
Particulars of the untenanted lands of Carnalway, containing 23 acres; Dunstown, containing 103 acres; and Harristown, containing 13 acres, on the La Touche Estate, County Kildare, have been lodged in the Land Commission, and these lands will be inspected in due course. No particulars of the lands of Rochestown and Brannoxtown referred to have yet been lodged.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that of the lands comprising one hundred and seventy-eight acres in the townland of Kirkpatrick, barony of Carbury, Co. Kildare, Record No. S.1414, recently acquired for the relief of congestion by the Land Commission from Major R. Bludenall Murphy, only about fifty acres are arable; further, whether in view of the numerous congests in the locality, and that there is no other land available, he will instruct the Land Commission to acquire the untenanted lands of Lullymore, consisting of about four hundred acres, and Lullybeg, consisting of about one hundred acres, nearly all of which is let on the eleven months' system, by Major Murphy, who does not reside on the property.
Mr. HOGAN
Proceedings have been instituted by the Land Commission under the Land Act of 1923 for the acquisition of the lands of Kilpatrick, Co. Kildare, containing 177a. 2r. 38p., part of the estate of Major R. B. Murphy.
An objection to the acquisition of these lands has been lodged by the owner and the matter is at present pending for hearing by the Land Commissioners. In addition, proceedings are pending for the acquisition of 105 acres of the lands of Growtown, Co. Meath, belonging to the same owner. In 1922 the Land Commission acquired from Major Murphy 822 acres of the lands of Kilbrew, Co. Meath.
As regards Growtown, these lands were gazetted by the Land Commission twelve months ago in order to relieve the congestion in that area, and nothing has been done yet in the way of division or allocation.
Mr. HOGAN
That is a statement and not a question, and it is incorrect on its face. There is a difference between gazetting and acquiring. There is first the gazetting, and afterwards the acquisition. Probably these lands have not been acquired yet, because between the gazetting and the acquisition all the objections have to be heard.
Is the Minister aware that the congests in the Lullymore area have suffered considerable hardships at the hands of this landlord and that there is no other land available there for the relief of congestion? Will the Minister reconsider the decision and acquire these lands for division? I do not think the situation that exists there is understood. We have one of the old type of landlords there and I think it is nearly time to deal with him.
Mr. HOGAN
I do not know what decision the Deputy wants me to reconsider. The Commissioners have already taken 822 acres and divided them and have instituted proceedings for acquiring two other farms. That is the decision, and if the Deputy wants the Commissioners to reconsider that I will intimate his wishes in the matter.
This is an absentee landlord and through sheer "devilment" he is holding on to the land. It is up to the Minister to get rid of him.
I would like to ask the Minister is he aware, as regards the Growtown Farm, that it has been looked upon as an evicted farm?