asked the Minister for Lands whether in view of the necessity for increased turf cutting he will state whether the Land Commission propose to acquire the turbary at Umeras, Monasterevan, for division among local persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monasterevan Turbary.
As the Deputy was previously informed, the Land Commission about three years ago acquired some 268 acres of the bogs owned by the Umeras Peat Company, nearly all of which have been allotted. His present question presumably refers to a residue of some 300 acres of turbary at Umeras not acquired.
The Land Commission have at present no proceedings for the acquisition of this turbary.
In view of the appeal that has been made to cut turf, and in view of the keen demand for turf banks in that area, will the Minister consider the question of instructing the Land Commission to take early steps to acquire that land for division so as to ensure that the turbary there will be fully exploited this year?
I shall call the attention of the Minister for Industry and Commerce to the matter. I think I should explain to the House that the procedure for acquiring turbary under the Land Commission is rather complicated and tedious and the intention is that in future, as far as possible, in order to meet emergency conditions, exploitation of turf should be carried out, if at all possible, through the Turf Development Board. I shall call their attention to the matter.
Will the Minister bear in mind that this House gave certain powers to the Government, under the Emergency Powers Act, which would enable the Minister to operate supplementary legislation to remove any tedious and cumbersome procedure that may exist and, in view of the general appeal by the Taoiseach and Ministers, and the anxiety that exists for putting by as large a supply of turf as possible to meet the country's requirements, will the Minister give an assurance that no tedious or cumbersome procedure will be allowed to hold up the winning of turf this year?
When I referred to tedious and complicated procedure, I was referring to the normal procedure which takes place when the Land Commission is providing turbary for its own tenants. The provision of turbary for outside persons, for parish councils and others, is an entirely different matter. The initiative in this matter might well come from the local authority, seeing that the Government have given them special powers, under a recent Emergency Order, to arrange for the exploitation of turf banks.
In view of the fact that this is a very valuable turf deposit, will the Minister do all that is possible, with the Minister for Supplies or otherwise, to ensure that it is put into production this year?
Certainly.