asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state how much money is at the disposal of the Irish Land Commission for the provision of land under Part I. of the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919; how much money has been expended on the project since the inception of the Act, and how much land has been allotted to this purpose.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IRISH LAND (PROVISION FOR SAILORS AND SOLDIERS) ACT.
No specific funds have been or were placed at the disposal of the Land Commission under Part I. of the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act, 1919. This part of the Act was an extension of previous Land Acts, and included amongst the classes of persons for whom parcels of untenanted land could be provided under such Acts, ex-servicemen who had served in the British forces during the European War and who satisfied the Commissioners as to their fitness and suitability. It also extended the powers of the Commissioners to acquire lands wholly or mainly for such purpose.
9,970 acres of lands acquired by the Commissioners have been utilised in the provision of holdings for 357 ex-servicemen, and £370,000 has been expended in the purchase of the lands and equipping them where necessary with buildings, drains, roads and fences.
Proceedings have not been instituted since the Treaty for the acquisition of further lands for this purpose, and any expenditure on the equipment of the lands allotted to ex-servicemen is provided by the British Government.