asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he is aware that a large area of bog situated on the Kenmare Estate, townland of Lisnagrave, Kerry, and formerly under the control of the Congested Districts Board, is, at present, useless to the tenants, owing to the large lake of water that has developed by reason of the failure to open drains; and if he will send an inspector, with a view to investigating the grievances of the tenants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding of Kenmare Bog.
The Deputy appears to refer to bogs situated on holdings in the townland of Lisnagrave on the Estate of Lord Kenmare. The holdings comprising this Estate were sold by the landlord direct to the tenants and in connection with the sale the control and management of the surplus turbary situated on certain of the holdings was committed by a Deed of Trust dated 20th March, 1915, to Trustees for the tenant purchasers. Under the terms of this deed each tenant cutting turf is to pay the Trustees on demand a sum not exceeding 3s. per annum in respect of the cost of administration of the turbary and the Trustees have power to repair bog roads and to drain the bogs out of surplus funds in their hands.
The Land Commission understand that for a considerable time the majority of the persons entitled to cut turf on these bogs have repudiated the authority of the trustees and refused to pay them the sums mentioned in the Trust Deed, with the result that the trustees do not exercise control over the bogs and the turf has been cut in an indiscriminate manner and roads and drains have been neglected.
The Land Commission have the matter under consideration at present.