asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will take steps to amend the Land Acts of 1923 and 1927 so as to allow the tenants on the Swift Estate, Co. Leitrim, to purchase their holdings similarly with the tenants on other estates.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - THE PURCHASE OF A LEITRIM ESTATE.
Schedules of particulars have been lodged with the Land Commission in the estate of Elizabeth N. Swift, Counties Carlow, Dublin and Leitrim, to enable the estate to be dealt with under the Land Act, 1923. I assume the Deputy refers to the case of the sub-tenants on the holding of Reps. of Eleanor McTernon, The Land Commission have ample power under the provisions of the Land Act, 1923, to deal with their cases, and they will be dealt with when the estate is reached in its turn.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain, if the Land Commission have power to deal with these cases, how is it that under the Land Act of 1923 these tenants were automatically included, inasmuch as they paid their annuities direct to the Land Commission? A short time afterwards they were told that the Land Commission could not accept them as purchasing tenants, and that they must continue to pay their rent as heretofore to the landlord, with the substitution of one-fourth per cent. deduction.
That was due to Mr. McTernon returning himself as landlord of this property, having the right to sell. It was subsequently discovered that the landlord was Elizabeth N. Swift. On that the tenants were instructed to pay their rents to McTernon, and that arrangement continues until such time as the land is finally taken over by the Land Commission and they are made tenants by the Land Commission.
Am I to understand that these tenants will be dealt with and put on the same footing?
They are being dealt with.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will state the cause of delay in dealing with the lands known as James Brannick Estate, Hollymount district, Co. Mayo, which have been in the possession of the Land Commission for a long time; and whether he will state when it is proposed to deal with the acute congestion that exists in this area.
A scheme for the division and distribution of James Brannick's surrendered holding has been prepared, and it is expected that the selected allottees will be put into possession of their allotments at an early date.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give any idea as to when this will be done?
I cannot be any more definite.