asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state when it is proposed to vest the estate of Gibney and others, S1496, County Westmeath.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Westmeath Estates.
The lands referred to as the estate of Gibney and others comprise a tenanted holding returned by the landlord in the Schedule of Particulars lodged in the Land Commission in respect of the estate of Carpendale as in the occupation of Hugh Macken. The holding has been declared a retained holding under the Land Act, 1923, with a view to resumption by the Land Commission for the relief of congestion. The proceedings are being expedited, but at the present stage it is not possible to say when the Land Commission may be in a position to complete the matter.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary state if estates are numbered according as particulars come in about them?
They are
Do I understand, then, that 1,400 estates have been vested?
Obviously the Deputy does not understand his own question. The question of vesting does not properly arise in connection with this estate at the moment. Some farmers in that area acquired the tenant's interest in these lands in 1919. The owner subsequently refused to allow them to subdivide the land, with the result that a trustee had to be appointed, and he was returned on the schedules lodged by the owners. The Land Commission have decided to retain the holding with a view to occupation in order that they may have power to distribute the lands in accordance with the purchasers' wishes.
Is it not a fact that this particular land was taken from that portion of the Land Commission that deals with committee cases?
No. This is not a committee case at all.
I was informed differently at the Land Commission.
These farmers only acquired a tenancy interest in the lands. Hence it cannot be treated as an ordinary committee case.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state when it is proposed to vest the Brabazon estate, S4628, Co. Westmeath.
The prescribed schedules of particulars of the lands on the estate of Wm. Brabazon, County Westmeath, comprising eight holdings in the townland of Croughal, have been lodged to enable the lands to be vested in the Land Commission under the Land Act, 1923; but the Land Commission are not at present in a position to state when it may be reached in its order to be dealt with by them. Proceedings are also in progress for the acquisition of untenanted lands on this estate, but as the price of these lands has not yet been determined the Land Commission are not at present in a position to state when they will vest in the Land Commission.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state when it is proposed to vest the Fetherstonhaugh estate, S2292, County Westmeath.
The prescribed schedules of particulars of the lands on the estate of Captain Cecil H.D. Fetherstonhaugh, County Westmeath, comprising 39 holdings situate in townlands of Ballynacor, Bracklyn, Curragh, Cartenstown, Florin, Stonestown, and Martinstown, have been lodged to enable the lands to be vested in the Land Commission under the Land Act, 1923, but the Land Commission are not at present in a position to state when it may be reached in its turn to be dealt with by them.
In view of the fact that the rent on these lands is as high as about £2 an acre would the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to speed up the vesting of this estate?
This estate will probably be dealt with during the coming months.