asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the Daly estate, Record No. S7909; lands—Bookeen South, Lisnadrisha, Carrowrevagh 1.C., Ballynahivnia, Carrownagower and Carrowrevagh 1.B., County Galway, was recently allotted, and that a holding of land was allotted on this estate to a young landless man whose father owns a holding of 80 acres; if he will state if the full circumstances of this allottee were disclosed to the inspector in charge of the scheme; and, if so, on what grounds the allottee was included in the scheme; if he is further aware that a number of landless men within a three miles radius of the estate, with I.R.A. service in some instances dating back to 1916, and one with an evicted tenant's claim, had applied for holdings and were not included; if the Minister will institute an inquiry into the entire scheme of allocation with a view to ascertaining the circumstances of each applicant, viz., number in family, I.R.A. service; ability to stock, equip and work holding in accordance with proper methods of husbandry; and if, in the event of the findings of such inquiry holding that the present scheme is inequitable, he will issue instructions to have the scheme prepared on more equitable lines.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Galway Estate.
Mr. Boland
The Land Commission, before approving the scheme of division in this case, had full information as to the circumstances of each proposed allottee and of each applicant for land. One adjoining smallholder received an enlargement; two men losing their employment on the lands were provided for; one small accommodation plot was approved to give a local man a site for a hayshed; six holdings were laid out for suitable landless men from the immediate locality; and four holdings were reserved for migrants from some 15 miles away whose home farms were needed for the relief of congestion. It will be apparent that congestion did not exist in the immediate neighbourhood of these lands. The Land Commission have followed their established practice of using portions of them to relieve congestion elsewhere, and have been able as well to settle on the land some half-dozen suitable young landless men whose homes are on the spot or very close to the lands. Applications were received from landless men with approved I.R.A. service. These applicants resided not close to the lands but at distances varying up to as far as seven miles away. It is the practice of the Land Commission in allotting holdings to landless men, to select suitable men whose homes closely adjoin the lands being divided. Should lands become available nearer to the I.R.A. applicants referred to by the Deputies their claims will receive full consideration, and one of them is being considered for a holding on another estate. As regards the allotment of a holding to a landless man whose father owns a farm of 80 acres, this would not appear to be correct, but the father of one allottee has a holding of 58 acres, poor law valuation £35 10s., and this may be the case to which the Deputies refer.
In view of the Minister's answer, it is quite obvious that the circumstances of the particular allottee referred to were not either submitted to the inspector in that area or, if they were, were not submitted to the Land Commission. In view of that fact, I give notice that it is my intention to raise the matter on the adjournment.