asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state what is the present position of the proceedings which are being taken by the Irish Land Commission in the acquisition of the ranch lands at St. Johnstown, Fethard, County Tipperary, estate of the representatives of Mr. Randall Moore, now occupied by Mr. Sparrow; whether he is aware that the farm is being denuded of timber by Mr. Sparrow; whether Mr. Sparrow has procured a permit for such stripping of these lands of valuable timber; and, if so, if he will state the grounds for granting the permit; and further, if in valuing the lands later in the event of acquisition, the loss of this timber will be taken into account.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fethard Lands (Tipperary).
The Deputy appears to refer to the holding of William Sparrow, containing 189a. 0r. 7p., in the townlands of Milltown, St. John and St. Johnstown on the Murray Estate, which is being dealt with under the purchase provisions of the Land Acts, 1923-29. A notice of the intention of the Land Commission to retain this holding on the Appointed Day was gazetted on 23rd January last, and a notice of the proposed resumption of the holding has been issued to the tenant, to which he has lodged an objection which will be listed for hearing by the Commissioners after the Appointed Day, which will probably be fixed at an early date.
The Land Commission have no knowledge of the cutting of trees by the tenant, and no permission to do so has been sought from or granted by this Department.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary send down an inspector who will be able to see for himself what is happening, so that the Department will be able to see that no more timber is cut? If there is, and if Mr. Sparrow has got permission to cut this timber, will the Parliamentary Secretary see that when the land is taken over by the Land Commission he will deduct out of the purchase money the value of the timber cut?
That would be a matter for the forestry section of the Department of Agriculture. I do not know what action the Department of Agriculture have taken.