asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if a division scheme was drawn up some considerable time ago in the case of the lands of Mr. John Mangan, Thornwell, Edenderry, Co. Offaly; and if he can now state the reason for the refusal of the Commissioners to put this scheme into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Land Division Scheme.
The Land Commission proposed to acquire the lands of Thornwell, the property of Mr. John Mangan, and a scheme for their division was prepared but, as the lands could be acquired only for the relief of congestion, they, having regard to the amount of congestion existing in the immediate vicinity of the lands, decided to discontinue the proceedings for acquisition.
Is it not a fact that a scheme for the division of these lands was prepared and sanctioned? Will the Parliamentary Secretary state to the House the special circumstances which compelled the Land Commission to reverse their original decision in this case, or will he state who is responsible for it?
A scheme was prepared for the division of the lands, but it was not sanctioned by the Commissioners. The scheme proposed a division of land as follows:—To three migrants, one herd and four labourers. The scheme was not approved of on the grounds that the lands to be vacated by the migrants would be useless for the purpose of relieving congestion, and, in addition, that the cost of migrating them in each case, which involved the erection of a house, would be from £600 to £800—this to be given as a free grant by the Land Commission. In two of the cases there was no acute congestion at all in the district, while in the other case the congestion has been dealt with on the Waller-Sawyer Estate, about which the Deputy has a question down to-day. Subsequent investigations were made by the inspectors and, from their reports, it appears that there is very little congestion in the immediate vicinity of these lands. Consequently, the Commissioners, on a full examination of the circumstances of the case, decided not to proceed with it and to abandon proceedings.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary deny that the original decision was reversed as to the result of representations made to his Department by the racing element in the locality?
No. There were no representations whatever made by any member of the racing fraternity in the locality so far as I know.
Stud farms?
No.