asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he is aware that Patrick Murphy, Prosperous, Co. Kildare, was informed by an inspector of the Land Commission about two years ago that he would be allotted a turf bank when the Dobbs Estate would be acquired and divided; that this man is a small holder of bog-land, whose principal means of livelihood is the cutting and sale of turf, and cannot provide for his family owing to the delay in acquiring the estate; and whether the Land Commission will, pending the acquisition of the lands, give permission to Mr. Murphy and a number of other small holders in the area the concession of cutting turf on portions of cut-away bogs adjoining, so that they can start turf-cutting operations at once; and whether he will have an inspector sent down forthwith to make the necessary arrangements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allotment of Turbary.
The bogs on the Dobbs Estate have not yet been acquired by the Land Commission, and as the Land Commission are not the owners they are not in a position to facilitate the small holders in question to obtain turf on the bogs this season.
Is it not possible for the Parliamentary Secretary to look into the matter again with a view to helping these deserving small holders to make a living?
The Land Commission are dealing with the matter at the moment, but it is quite impossible to do anything for these small holders this year.