asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state when it is intended to divide the Glenveagh (Adair) Estate, Country Donegal, amongst the descendants of the tenants who were evicted therefrom.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Donegal Estate.
The area of the untenanted lands on the Glenveagh Estate to be acquired by the Land Commission from the owner, Mr. Kingsley Porter, has not yet been definitely decided and it is not therefore possible at present to state when the lands can be divided. The matter is at present under consideration and will be settled ad soon as possible.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that as far back as the 9th July last, he told me that the matter was under consideration and that difficulties in regard to the matter have been settled?
That is only three months ago and very definite progress has been made since then. The Land Commission at the moment is trying to arrange with the owners the areas which ought to be acquired for distribution among the tenants.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this estate was one of the first of those estates brought to the notice of his Department with a view to distribution, and in view of the fact that his Department has been tinkering with this question for eight or nine years, can he not now give a definite answer as to when it will be divided?
It was not the first estate brought to the notice of the Land Commission. I explained in reply to the preasons for delay, and I told him that one of the difficulties was the title to land; and the onus for the establishment of title does not rest with the Land Commission, but with the owner. All these difficulties have been disposed of, and I anticipate it will be possible for the Land Commission to divide this estate next year.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that certain difficulties in regard to the ownership of the land were due to facts arising out of the unnecessary delays which took place in his own Department?
No.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that people believe his Department should have stepped in and purchased this estate before Mr. Kingsly Porter took it over?
If the Land Commission stepped in and purchased all these lands it would be quite impossible to dispose of more than a quarter of them.