asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he will state the reasons why the applications of Pat Walsh, Breaghwy, County Mayo; Michael Loftus, Ballinooash; Michael Caulfield, Ballinooash; James Howley, Lognavodogue; Edward Mullaney, Lognavodogue; Ellen Callaghan, Cappavicar; Ellen Mongan, Cappavicar; John Quigley, Lognavodogue; Pat Fox, Corheens, and Patrick Clarke, Ballinooash, for parcels of land on the Browne Estate, Breaghwy, Castlebar, have been refused; whether he is aware that these applicants are congested holders who are in urgent need of increases to their farms; and whether he will now state when and how it is proposed to deal with their claims.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DIVISION OF MAYO ESTATE.
The Commissioners in the exercise of their discretion have divided the lands situate on the estate of Major D.S. Browne to the best advantage having regard to the number and circumstances of the applicants and to the area of land available for distribution. It was not found possible to provide the applicants referred to in the question with allotments.
Is the Minister aware that everyone of those I mentioned in my question are under £10 valuation and is he aware that in this division of land an ex-R.I.C. man with over £4 0s. 0d. a week pension got 75 acres of land and another 40 acres of land; that a person having a post office and a tobacconist's shop got a large addition while a resident in the village of Kilmaine, a blacksmith, was refused an addition of land on the ground that he was a blacksmith, and also in the village of Carnacon a woman was refused an addition on the ground that she was a carpenter's wife?
I am not aware of the facts the Deputy mentioned but I am aware that in one of the cases he mentioned the inspector's report says that the holding of the applicant had a Poor Law Valuation of £18 15s. 0d. That means that at least one case was not under £10. In fact, of the number of cases mentioned here, in the inspector's report, only four are mentioned: viz., that one I mentioned, another where the valuation was £8 15s. 0d. that of a married man with no family. The third was that of a person in a mental hospital, and his wife was thought unable to work the holding she has and is going to dispose of it, and the fourth was turned down as being too far away from the district.
Would the Minister desire that I should give the valuation of each?
I dare say the valuation is in our office already.
I desire to give notice that I will raise this matter on the adjournment.