asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if the Land Commission propose to divide the lands of the King estate, Ferbane, Offaly, and also the lands of the Co-operative Society adjoining same, during the present year, or if he can state the reasons for being unable to do so.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - KING ESTATE, FERBANE.
Mr. HOGAN
The Land Commission have had the King estate, Ferbane, Offaly, inspected, but proceedings for the acquisition of this estate under the provisions of the 1923 Land Act have been held over pending the acquisition and disposal of adjoining lands. The lands held by the Ferbane Co-operative Farming Society, Ltd., have been vested in the Land Commission under Part III of the Land Act, 1923, and, from the date of vesting, the Society is deemed under the provisions of the Act to have entered into a subsequent Purchase Agreement for the purchase of the lands from the Land Commission. The Land Commission are at present unable to state when the lands will be divided. The Bill that is going through now will, of course, affect that question.
Will the Minister hold out any hope that the lands will be divided before the end of the present year?
Mr. HOGAN
I do not see how they can be divided. We could divide them under the existing Acts, but if we did, the Deputy knows the price of the land would be very much dearer than when the Bill now going through is passed.