asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he is aware that in the division of the lands of the Ballywire Estate, County Tipperary, the best land is being given to persons without families and that labourers and persons with large families have been given swamp land, which is quite unfit for tillage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballywire Estate (Tipperary).
The untenanted land on the estate referred to, which was divided on 30th March last, was utilised to provide enlargements for 14 uneconomic holdings and new holdings for five ex-employees on the estate, also a holding for a migrant. It is also proposed to sell a parcel of the land containing 21 acres to the Tipperary S.R. Board of Health for a cow park for local landless men and for sites for labourers'cottages. The portion of the latter parcel which is to be used as the site of labourers' cottages is dry tillage land. This parcel of land will provide sufficient and suitable accommodation for six cottiers.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary admit that the Land Commission is proceeding to vest land, part of which is fairly described as swamp?
Certainly not.
The Parliamentary Secretary did not, of course, advert to that description which Deputy Keyes gave to this parcel of land that is being allotted?
The reply states clearly that the particular parcel of land in question will provide sufficient and suitable accommodation for six cottiers, and it also states that the land is dry tillage land.