asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether the Land Commission has allotted 250 out of 320 acres on the Aylmer Estate, near Kilcock, County Kildare, to a migrant from the West of Ireland; whether there was a promise made by the Land Commission to the small-holders of the district that this land would be divided amongst them last November, and that this promise was not carried out; whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and strong resentment of the residents in the locality in consequence of this action, and whether the Land Commission will immediately allot suitable parcels of land to the fourteen congests whose names and addresses have been furnished to him.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - AYLMER ESTATE (KILDARE).
Mr. HOGAN
Portion of the lands acquired by the Land Commission on the Aylmer Estate have already been divided among small-holders in the vicinity. The final allotment of the residue is under consideration.
Would the Minister say definitely whether these people have any chance of being allotted holdings? There are a great many complaints from the north of Kildare that all the estates that have been acquired are being kept for migrants from the west and that local people have no chance at all. In view of the General Election, I should like if the Minister would give us a definite answer one way or other.
Mr. HOGAN
The trouble is that I could not be sure of the right answer to give in view of the General Election.
Will the Minister see that these fourteen men are given farms on the Aylmer or Cloncurry Estate?
Mr. HOGAN
Some of the land will be retained to deal with congests on adjoining property but I could not say how many of these 14 men will be included.
Will the Minister ask the Land Commission to deal favourably with these 14 men? They are all old residents and I think they should get preference to outsiders.
Mr. HOGAN
If they are congests, they will be considered by the Land Commission.