asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries to state the report of his Department's Inspector who early last year investigated the division of the lands and property on the Harlick Estate, Dromod, Co. Leitrim, which was carried out by his Department some years ago; if as the result of said investigation, he proposes making any change in the existing arrangements there; and, if so, where and to what extent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Co. Leitrim Lands.
The Land Commission have had under consideration the report of their inspector regarding the Harlick and Gore Estate referred to by the Deputy, but as practically the entire estate has been distributed and is held by the allottees under purchase agreements, it is not proposed to carry out any rearrangement of the scheme which has been put into operation. However, an arrangement has been come to between the Land Commission and Colonel Kirkwood, who purchased the mansion house and accommodation land, for the surrender by him of a large portion of these lands, which will be available for distribution.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state the reason why his Department has refused to take over the lands of Messrs. Johnston and McKenna, situated in Drumard, Mohill, Co. Leitrim; if he is aware that these lands are non-residential; that the owners are not to any extent dependent on them for their livelihood, and that the applicants for the division of those lands have holdings adjoining same, which are all uneconomic, and that these people are entirely dependent on farming for their living.
The Land Commission do not propose to take any action at present in regard to the acquisition of the holdings in Gortanure South, of which Mr. Geo. F. Johnston is the owner, or the holdings in Drumard (Jones) of which Mr. William McKenna and Mr. John McKenna are the owners, all of which have been purchased under the Land Purchase Acts.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state whether he has any special reasons for refusing to take over those two farms, or is it part of the general policy which he intends to apply towards the acquisition of land for the relief of congestion in the country?
I stated in my reply that these lands were subject to land annuities and, if they are acquired for the relief of congestion, the owners will insist on getting equivalent holdings elsewhere. There is no land available for them.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the owners in these cases really demand such a thing as he suggests, namely, compensation?
Yes, they have demanded equivalent holdings.
Has not the Parliamentary Secretary power to acquire these lands without giving equivalent holdings to these people who occupy their holdings as auxiliary to other lands?
The owners of lands subject to annuities are entitled to demand equivalent holdings elsewhere.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether he has not power to acquire lands under the conditions I have stated without giving alternative holdings?
If the owners insist on getting equivalent holdings elsewhere, the Land Commission must give them such holdings.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries to state when an inspection of the Glenfarne Estate, Co. Leitrim, the property of Messrs. Lees and Nixon, was carried out by his Department; if it is the intention of his Department to take over these lands and sub-divide them towards the relief of congestion in the area; or what scheme, if any, he has for utilising them in a useful way, and when he proposes moving in the matter.
Perhaps the Deputy would be good enough to repeat his question in a fortnight's time.