asked the Minister for Lands what steps, if any, have been taken for the purpose of acquiring and dividing the large acreage of bogs on the Coote estate, County Laoighis, and whether a division scheme for same will be put into operation this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Bogs.
The Land Commission have under consideration the question of the acquisition of the bog on the estate of Sir R.A. Coote, County Laoighis, Record No. U.3886. They are not at present in a position to state if or when the bog will be acquired and divided.
How can the large number of small holders and town dwellers in the vicinity of this large tract of bog land comply with the request of the Taoiseach to cut three times as much turf as they did in 1939? That is quite impossible, as the Minister knows, unless steps are taken to acquire large bogs of this kind and divide them.
The Deputy may not be aware that the acquisition of a bog of 2,000 acres—very scattered and consisting of several sections—is a tremendous undertaking. It takes years to accomplish it, and even the preliminaries take a considerable time.
The Minister has power, under the Emergency Powers Order, to acquire bogs in a much shorter time than the red-tape regulations of the Land Commission permit.
If we could leave to the Deputy the trouble that would ensue to the tenants who would get the allotments, all would be well.