asked the Minister for Fisheries whether it is the intention of the Land Commission to carry out definite promises made by the Congested Districts Board regarding the making of bog roads at High Tully and Lower Tully (Mahon Estate) and Carndine, in the Castlerea district, County Roscommon; whether he will state if money for this purpose was allocated out of the Improvements Fund; if it was withdrawn when the tenants had signed for their holdings; and, if so, for what reason; and if he will state whether the Land Commission has carried out similar improvements on the Worthington Estate near Cloonfad and the O'Connor Estate at Drimatemple, Ballymoe.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BOG ROADS AT CASTLEREA (ROSCOMMON).
The Land Commission are not aware of any promises made by the (late) Congested Districts Board or its officers regarding the making of bog roads at Tully, on the Mahon Estate, or Carndine, on the De Freyne Estate, nor have the Land Commission sanctioned any expenditure out of the Improvement Fund for this purpose. The Board expended £3,825 upon making and fencing roads on the Mahon Estate and £21,376 on the De Freyne Estate.
The Land Commission carried out improvements on roads at Cloonfad (Worthington Estate) and on the O'Connor Estate.
In view of the fact that these tenants were supposed to have the use of the turf banks, the Parliamentary Secretary will agree that they are badly hit. Is he aware that they are unanimous in their assertion that very definite promises were made by the Congested Districts Board at the time, and will he inquire further into the matter?
In view of the enormous amount that has been spent already on these estates in the matter of improvement works, a much stronger case must be made for the carrying out of further improvements.
The fact of so much money having been already spent makes it all the more necessary to finish the job. The making of these bog roads was left an unfinished job. So much money has been spent and the roads are unfinished and are of little use. If there is no further expenditure of money on these works, what has been spent there already is a waste of money.