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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1937

Vol. 66 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Notices to Quit on Kilkenny Allottees.

asked the Minister for Lands if it is a fact that notices to quit were served on Edward Duggan, Hugginstown, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny; James Holden, Hugginstown, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny; John Hudson, Newmarket, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny; Michael Cody, Castlemorris, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny, and Mrs. P. Whelan, Castlemorris, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny; whether he is aware that the persons concerned are industrious workers to whom small allotments of three acres were given by the Land Commission on the division of the Castlemorris estate in 1926; whether he is aware that the persons concerned have paid all Land Commission charges due out of their holdings, and whether he will state the grounds on which notices to quit have been served on them, and whether it is the present policy of the Land Commission to evict these people from their homes, and if so, with what object in view.

Mr. Boland

The persons in question are allottees on the De Montmorency estate, and were put into possession of their allotments under temporary convenience lettings on the 6th January, 1927. On investigation at various times, the Land Commission ascertained that the allottees were not working the lands allotted to them in a satisfactory manner, and, as there was no improvement shown after their attention had been called to the matter, and after they had been warned of the consequences of their neglect, the Land Commission decided to take up the parcels of land for redistribution. Accordingly, notices terminating the lettings on the 1st May next were issued to the allottees on the 8th January last.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, in view of the fact that the parcel of land in each case amounts only to three acres, might I ask what does the Minister mean by saying that the allottees were not working the lands in a satisfactory way?

Mr. Boland

There is a generally accepted standard as to how land of that kind should be worked. There has been constant inspection of these lands, and since these notices to quit were served, one of the allottees has shown marked improvement in his way of working the land, and as a consequence the notice in that case was withdrawn. In the other cases the allottees have continued to neglect their allotments.

Will the Minister tell the House what is the standard?

Mr. Boland

I do not propose to indicate what the standard it. When land is neglected like that, it is quite obvious that the people who have it should not be left in possession, and they have not been left in possession. I do not propose to tell the House what the standard is. Everybody knows the way these lands ought to be used.

Is the Minister aware that there are ranchers who own 300 acres or more who are allowed to neglect their land, and still the Land Commission will not take steps to acquire such property?

Mr. Boland

The Minister is not aware of any such thing. He is aware that these ranches are acquired as quickly as they possibly can be.

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