asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that the Land Commission have acquired from Mrs. Connolly, Flat House, Dunboyne, County Meath, the Mabestown farm which was subject to a fee farm rent, and if he will state (a) the price paid Mrs. Connolly for the holding, and what deductions, if any, were made from such moneys; (b) the price paid to the landlord; (c) the names of the persons to whom the land was allotted, and the amount of the annuity fixed for each, allotment; (d) the number of houses, if any, erected in connection with the sub-division, and the cost of construction of such houses; (e) the cost of any fences built, and any other costs arising out of the distribution of the lands; (f) the total all-in cost to the Land Commission of the acquisition and development of the lands for the allottees; and (g) the loss or profit made by the Land Commission in the acquisition and distribution of the lands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition and Distribution of Land.
The reply is in the form of a detailed statement which will be circulated in the Official Report.
Statement showing particulars of the acquisition and allotment by the Land Commission of the estate of Mary Connolly, Record No. S. 7603, County Meath.
|
4 per cent. |
|
|
Land Bonds. |
|
|
(a) and (b) The purchase price of the estate was |
£2,500 |
|
To which was added in aid of costs |
100 |
|
Total |
£2,600 |
|
The funds were allocated by the Judicial Commissioner as follows:— |
|
|
For rates and costs relating thereto |
£44 |
|
For redemption of fee farm rent of £148 15/2 |
2,200 |
|
For arrears of above rent (including income tax and costs relating thereto) |
274 |
|
Costs of sale |
77 |
|
Balance of purchase money (unallocated) |
5 |
|
£2,600 |
(c) The lands were allotted as follows:—
|
Allottee. |
Annuity Unrevised. |
||
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
John Kearns |
6 |
16 |
10 |
|
James Murphy |
6 |
15 |
10 |
|
Mrs. Helena Boylan |
10 |
6 |
2 |
|
Mrs. Mary Scally |
6 |
13 |
0 |
|
John Bruton |
18 |
17 |
2 |
|
James Chapman |
15 |
7 |
10 |
|
Patrick Clinch |
16 |
5 |
0 |
|
Patrick Cooney |
14 |
6 |
0 |
|
Patrick Geraghty |
13 |
4 |
2 |
|
Michael Corcoran |
3 |
18 |
0 |
|
Mrs. Alice May |
3 |
6 |
6 |
|
Joseph Kane |
2 |
13 |
2 |
|
Joseph Leonard |
2 |
17 |
0 |
|
Michael Chapman |
8 |
7 |
2 |
The annual sums set out above are subject to the usual reductions of 50 per cent. pursuant to the Land Act, 1933.
(d) The Land Commission sanctioned the erection of five dwelling houses, with out-offices, on new holdings created on the allotment of the lands, and a contract has been placed for their erection at a cost of £1,490 (of which £250 represents advances repayable by allottees).
(e) The Land Commission sanctioned sums of £178 for fencing, £367 for roads and £14 for a pump in connection with the allotment of the lands.
(g) The resale price of the lands (apart from improvements expenditure) was less by £20 than the purchase price.
I did not catch what the Minister said, but I should like to know whether the Minister would admit that in this particular case the landlord got £9 for every £1 that the owner of the land got. Will the Minister admit that?
Mr. Boland
I have already told the Deputy that the reply is in a very detailed form and that it will be circulated in the Official Report. I am not prepared to read it out, and I am not going to admit anything. When the Deputy reads the reply, as circulated in the Official Report, if he has anything further to say on the matter, he will have plenty of opportunity to do so.
Does the Minister know the amount that has been paid by the deceased owner in the last 20 years, and, in view of that, what reply has the Minister got?
The Deputy might defer the matter until he has seen the Minister's reply.
On a point of order, Sir, has the Minister a right to say that his answer will be circulated in the Official Report and that he will not read out his answer now? I think that it is only by the courtesy of the House that a Minister is allowed to state that his reply will be circulated in the Official Report, and I submit, that, if a Deputy wants a reply to his question, he is entitled to get that reply. I submit that the Minister is bound to give an answer to a Deputy, if the Deputy requires an answer, and that it is only by the courtesy of the House that a Minister is allowed to state that his reply will be circulated.
It rests with the Chair to decide whether the reply, in such cases as this, should not be given orally, but be printed in the Report.
But this is not in tabular form.
Any lengthy reply, by permission of the Chair, may first appear in the Official Reports. The Deputy who put the question will then have an opportunity to put down further questions.
By what authority is the Minister entitled to suppress the answer to the question?
What I want to know, Sir, is whether I can raise this matter on the adjournment this evening, if I am not satisfied with the Minister's reply.
Yes.
I submit, Sir, that Deputy Fagan, by reason of the Minister's refusal to reply, is deprived of his constitutional right to raise this matter on the adjournment, and I submit, Sir, that before the Chair permits the Minister to suppress his answer, it is reasonable to hear Deputy Fagan, or any other Deputy in a similar case. I think it is desirable that the Minister should give an answer on this matter now.
A practice has grown up in this House, and has in fact obtained for years, of allowing a Minister, without formally asking the permission of the Chair in advance, to state that he will issue, with the Official Report, any lengthy reply or any reply in a tabular form. That practice has not been questioned till now. It is not correct, therefore, to say that the Minister has suppressed his reply. Neither is it correct to say that the Deputy concerned is deprived of an opportunity of raising the matter on the adjournment, seeing that, when the reply is published, there will be ample opportunity to pursue the matter further.
I submit, Sir, that the Deputy can raise the matter on the adjournment in any case.
Quite.
I only want to say, Sir, that I think I am within my rights in proposing to raise it on the adjournment.
The Deputy is quite within his rights in proposing to raise this matter on the adjournment. The Chair has suggested, however, that it might be well for the Deputy to see the Minister's reply before raising the matter on the adjournment.
I did not hear what the Minister said.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission intends to acquire for distribution the estate of the Duke of Newcastle at Castleblayney, County Monaghan, and, if so, when.
Mr. Boland
The Deputy's question appears to refer to the lands of Annahale, Black Island, Concra, Ormy and others, in the occupation of Lord F.P. Hope. The Land Commission are having an inspection made of these lands, but they are not in a position at the present stage to say whether they will be acquired.