asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state (a) how many estates there are in the Saorstát in regard to which all compounded arrears of rent under the Land Act, 1923, have been paid up in full, and (b) the number of estates in regard to which the appointed day has been fixed previous to vesting the land.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LAND ACT OPERATIONS.
Mr. HOGAN
The number of estates of tenanted land in regard to which there are no compounded arrears of rent under the Land Act, 1923, outstanding is 1,046. The number of estates in regard to which the appointed day has been fixed in respect of tenanted land under the Act is 367.
Is it not evident from the figure given that the Land Commission are not proceeding expeditiously to vest the land in respect of which all compounded arrears have been paid? Will the Minister see that in respect of all land on which the compounded arrears have been paid up to date the appointed day will be fixed immediately?
Mr. HOGAN
I do not agree that there has been undue delay. The Land Commission have to vest the land and acquire and distribute untenanted land pari passu. I do not think they could be expected to go much faster.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he is aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction at the dilatoriness of the Land Commission in completing the sale of many estates throughout the Saorstát; whether he will take steps to expedite the administration of the Land Act, 1923, in regard to the sale of tenanted land; if he will state whether the Land Commission will fix the appointed day in regard to individual tenants who have paid up all compounded arrears even though other tenants on the estate may not have done so.
Mr. HOGAN
It is proposed in the new amending Bill to add compounded arrears of rent to the purchase money. This will enable the vesting of the tenanted lands to be completed which had to be held up owing to the existence of these arrears.
The Minister has not answered the second portion of my question at all —"If he will state whether the Land Commission will fix the appointed day in regard to individual tenants who have paid up all compounded arrears, even though other tenants on the estate may not have done so."
Mr. HOGAN
That is really a matter of expediency. It is a question for the Land Commission as to whether or not it would be, on the whole, quicker to adopt the procedure of vesting by estates rather than of vesting in respect of individuals. I do not know the merits of the question but that much is obvious from the answer.
The point is that you may have an estate with ten tenants, nine of whom have paid the compounded arrears to date. If the Land Commission vest by estates, the whole estate will be held up in such a case.
Mr. HOGAN
In such a case, if everything was ready, the Land Commission would vest as regards the nine tenants who had paid.
Is the Minister aware that this is a problem all over the country, and that representations are constantly made in respect of estates which are being held up, because a couple of tenants have not paid the compounded arrears?
Mr. HOGAN
I doubt if that would be the reason in many cases. The reason would be that the titles would not be ready. The Land Commission will obviously take those estates first on which there are no arrears and which can be vested en bloc. The others must wait for their turn. Somebody will have to wait until the whole thing is completed.
Is the Minister aware that new pay orders are being sent out by the Land Commission, the old ones having apparently run out, and that the general impression throughout the country on the part of tenants is that estates will not be vested until all the payments are made?
Mr. HOGAN
That would be incorrect. On the other hand, the Land Commission were quite right in sending out receivable orders with five or six blanks, so as not to have the trouble of printing them again. There will be some estates which it will take a long time to vest.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state the amount, if any, of the lands of Rathregan (Wallace Estate) County Meath, to be reserved for division among the herd and local applicants, and when the division of the estate will take place.
Mr. HOGAN
The allocation of these lands is at present under consideration by the Land Commission who will have due regard to local needs.
asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether the Land Commission proposes allotting the townlands of Rackenstown, on the Thunder Estate, Lagore, Dunshaughlin, County Meath, and if same will be divided among local landless men and uneconomic holders.
Mr. HOGAN
The untenanted lands on the estate of Reps. of Patrick Thunder, deceased (Rec. No. S. 1504), Co. Meath, have been divided among the herd and small holders in the district with the exception of one parcel in the townland of Rackenstown, the allocation of which is at present under consideration.