asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state the reasons why the Land Commission have decided to take no action with reference to the acquisition for division of the estate of Mr. Kennedy, comprising the following, viz.:—Black Friary, Whitehall and Newtown, Clonbun, Trim, Co. Meath; whether he is aware that Mr. Kennedy also has a very large holding at Rathcore, Enfield, Co. Meath, where he resides, and also at Ardanew, and whether, in view of the great demand in and around the town of Trim for allotments and for cow plots, he will instruct the Land Commission to reconsider their decision in this matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CO. MEATH LAND.
Mr. HOGAN
The lands of Ardanew on the Kennedy Estate are being acquired by the Land Commission.
The Commissioners in the exercise of their discretion do not at present intend to take any action with a view to the acquisition of the other lands referred to in the question.
Will the Minister state why the Land Commission has decided on this particular course of action?
Mr. HOGAN
What the Deputy is asking me is——
I will put it another way. Will the Minister state why the Land Commission has decided to take no action in regard to the Kennedy estate bordering on the town of Trim, where very serious congestion exists? Will the Minister give an explanation in that connection, having regard to the fact that Mr. Kennedy has a large residential farm at Rathcore, near Enfield?
Mr. HOGAN
The Land Commission are taking the lands of Ardanew. With regard to the other lands, my information is that some of them are held subject to a land purchase annuity.
I do not think so.
Mr. HOGAN
I think so.
I think that is wrong. I am fed up hearing about Ardanew. I have had that the whole year round.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether an application to have his holding extended has been received by the Land Commission from Mr. M. O'Reilly, Martry Cottage, Kells, Co. Meath, who is a small holder, and the son of a tenant evicted in 1873 by the late John Tisdal, Charlesfort, Co. Meath, and if he can state when steps will be taken to extend this man's present holding.
Mr. HOGAN
An application has been received, signed by John Reilly, Matt O'Reilly, and Mary Reilly jointly, and will be considered in connection with any untenanted land which may be acquired in the neighbourhood of their existing holding.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether the Land Commission are taking any steps to acquire the estate of Sir John F. Dillon, Bart, deceased, Lismullen, Garlacross, Navan, Co. Meath, for division among deserving landless men and uneconomic holders, and if he will state when same will be acquired for division.
Mr. HOGAN
The lands on the Dillon Estate referred to are at present the subject of investigations by the Commissioners.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether an application has been received by the Land Commission from Mr. Edward Greville, Agher Hill, Enfield, Co. Meath for a holding of twelve acres on the estate of Col. E.W. Purdon Winter, at Agher Hill, Enfield; whether he is aware that the said holding was taken from applicant's father about the year 1886, by the landlord, and whether any steps are being taken to extend Mr. Greville's uneconomic holding.
Mr. HOGAN
The application referred to was lodged in the Land Commission by Mr. Edward Greville on 10th December, 1923, and has been noted for consideration in the event of the lands in question becoming available for division.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether the application for a holding on the Aylmer Estate, Kildare, forwarded to the Land Commission on the 14th September, 1925, by Mr. R.A.J. Manning Hayes, Navan, Co. Meath, son of a tenant evicted in the year 1892 from the Aylmer Estate, has been considered; and if it is not possible to allot Mr. Manning a holding on the Aylmer Estate, whether the Land Commission will consider placing him in possession of a holding in Co. Meath.
Mr. HOGAN
The application of Mr. R.A.J. Manning as the representative of an evicted tenant will be considered in connection with the Aylmer Estate.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether the Land Commission have taken steps to acquire the following lands situated in the parish of Painstown, Beauparc, Co. Meath, viz.:—Estates of Hayes, four hundred acres; Sheridan, one hundred and twenty acres; Brodigan, five hundred acres; Daly, two hundred acres; Crinions, two hundred and forty acres; Kelly, Ballinlough, one hundred and thirty acres; Greenhills Finegan, one hundred and thirty acres; Ardmullaghan Deans, three hundred acres; Rollistown Austin, three hundred acres; and whether all or any of the said lands will be divided before the coming winter among the fifty congests in the district.
Mr. HOGAN
The lands of Park, comprising 130 acres, held by M.V. Crinion and others as judicial tenants on the Henly Estate are being dealt with as a "retained holding."
The holding of Agnes Kelly in the townland of Seneschalstown, comprising 118a. 0r. 13p., is held by her as judicial tenant on the estate of N.C. Brodigan and was included in a provisional list for the estate published on 2nd March last.
The holdings of Peter Austin situate in the townland of Painestown and Thurstiantown, comprising 220a 0r. 30p. and 112a. 0r. 4p., respectively, are held by him as tenant on the estate of Robert Egginton; these holdings, together with a holding of Thomas F. Crinion, in the same townlands comprising 198 acres, are being dealt with as "retained holdings."
The other lands referred to in the question cannot be identified as the subject of proceedings under the Land Act, 1923.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether any steps have been taken by the Land Commission to acquire the lands of Nolan Whelan, Dogstown, Trim, and if so, if he will state what stage the proceedings have reached towards the acquisition of this estate.
Mr. HOGAN
The lands referred to appear to comprise a holding of 167a. 2r. 23p. in the townland of Dogstown (3rd division), held by Mrs. Amelia Elizabeth Lett as judicial tenant on the estate of George Corr Lett and another, assignees of Nolan Whelan, which is being dealt with by the Land Commission under the Land Act, 1923. The provisional list for this estate was published on the 8th instant. The Land Commission will have inquiries made as to the retention of this holding.