asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the reasons for the delay in acquiring the lands at Ballynonty, Thurles, County Tipperary, known as the Cobden Estate, the property of the late W. P. Hanly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Tipperary Lands.
Mr. Boland
The Land Commission have decided to institute proceedings for the resumption of two holdings in the townland of Ballynonty on the Cobden Estate formerly in the occupation of the late W. P. Hanly, but action has been postponed pending negotiations for the acquisition of other lands in the same district, with a view to the preparation of a comprehensive scheme of division.
Is the Minister aware that at the moment there is a good deal of trouble in that district and the area is under police surveillance? Is the Minister aware that there has been some damage done in the area? Is he also aware that these lands were offered to the Land Commission three years ago, and though the Land Commission have been very busy in other parts of the county, they have made no effort to acquire these lands? Will the Minister look into the matter and have these lands speedily acquired and divided?
Mr. Boland
I suggest to the Deputy that there might be more trouble in the area if one small estate were divided; I suggest that the better thing to do is to defer dividing the lands until more estates have been acquired so that the division could take place at the same time in that area?
Perhaps that is so, but I ask the Minister to have the lands divided as soon as possible. There are numbers of small holders in that district and they are inclined to cause trouble owing to this delay of three years in having these lands divided.
asked the Minister for Lands whether it is the intention of the Land Commission to insist on the acquisition of the lands of Richard Purcell, Cashel, at Boscabell and the Commons, and if he is aware that the acquisition of those two farms means depriving the present holder of his only means of existence.
Mr. Boland
The Land Commission, having heard and disallowed an objection lodged by the owner, have decided to proceed with the acquisition of the untenanted lands of Hills Lot and Lalor's Lot on the estate of Richard Purcell. They have also instituted proceedings for the acquisition of the untenanted lands of Boscabell and Hughes' Lot. The owner has objected to the acquisition of the latter lands, and his objection is pending for hearing by the Land Commission. On the hearing the circumstances of his case can be considered. In addition to the lands mentioned (which are all nonresidential) this owner has a further area of approximately 14 acres (also non-residential) in the townland of Lalor's Lot, which is not being acquired by the Land Commission.