asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that acute congestion exists on the Ward Estate, townland of Kilscoghagh, Crossboyne, County Mayo, where there are ten tenants whose Poor Law Valuations are under £5 each; that the large grazing farm known as Gortanieran on that estate was retained for the relief of those tenants by the Irish Land Commission in 1923; that the said farm has been let in grazing to Messrs. Mellett for the past 13 years, and if he will now state what steps, if any, are being taken to provide economic holdings for the tenants for whom that farm was retained.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Congestion in Mayo.
Mr. Boland
A notice of intention to resume portion of the holding of Mark Mellet, in the townlands of Gortanieran and Kilscoghagh on the Ward estate, for the purpose of relieving congestion was gazetted under the provisions of Section 31 of the Land Act, 1933, but a petition against resumption was presented by the tenant. The hearing of this petition has been held up owing to difficulties of procedure arising out of a judicial decision concerning the powers of the Land Commission in regard to resumption under the Provisions of Section 31 of the Land Act, 1933. The petition will be dealt with as soon as possible.