asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state the total amount of lands acquired for division by the Land Commission under the Land Act, 1923, in County Kildare, with the name of the owner of each estate, also acreage and names of townlands and electoral divisions in which each estate is situate; the amount of land already divided and the amount reserved by the Land Commission on each estate; further, if he will state the total amount of lands the Land Commission are at present proposing to purchase and negotiating, with a view to purchase, with the names of each owner, acreage and names of townlands and electoral divisions in which such lands are situate.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - KILDARE LANDS—LAND COMMISSION ACTIVITIES.
Mr. HOGAN
Under the Land Act, 1923, in County Kildare, 7,324 acres of untenanted land have been acquired for division by the Land Commission, of which 1,785 acres have been already divided. It is anticipated that most of the balance will be divided before next spring. The purchase price has been fixed or agreed on in respect of a further 2,476 acres, and offers have been made or the lands gazetted in respect of 3,230 acres. In addition the Land Commission are making inquiries with a view to purchase in respect of 34,300 acres, of which over 19,000 acres have been inspected. The compilation of detailed lists such as those asked for cannot be undertaken by the Land Commission, as their preparation would seriously impede the general work of the Department.
I would like the Minister to get the Land Commission to give a return of these lands setting out the townlands and the electoral divisions. Such information would be very valuable to the people of the county.
Mr. HOGAN
Supposing every Deputy asked for such a return in respect to every county, the Land Commission would have to cease work for two months in order to compile the returns. I could not undertake to get such returns completed. I think the House will see that the request is unreasonable. I could not undertake to ask the Land Commission to make such a detailed return, embodying as it would particulars of the lands they have gazetted, inspected, priced, divided and allotted, with the townlands, areas and so on. Such a return would be very exhaustive, and the conditions would be changing from month to month. Next month the Deputy might come along and ask for a similar return. To prepare such a return as is asked for would hold up the whole work of the Land Commission.
Why do you not increase the staff?
That would be bad economy.