asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what portion, if any, of the large acreage of untenanted lands already inspected in the Shinrone area, County Offaly, is likely to be acquired for the relief of the acute congestion which exists in that area, whether any division scheme is being prepared for any portion of the lands concerned, and, if so, when same is likely to be put into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Offaly Lands.
Owing to the emergency conditions now obtaining, the Land Commission have not yet come to a decision as to instituting proceedings for the acquisition of any of the lands inspected by them in the Shinrone area, County Offaly.
Has anything been done since the Minister gave the same type of reply to a question dealing with this matter on 26th June, 1940? Is he aware that the agitation for the acquisition of the large acreage of untenanted land in this area has been going on for the past 15 years? Will the Minister of this Government, like the Minister of the last Government, get up and give us the same reply about it, which means that nothing has been done?
Owing to the extreme shortage of staff in the Land Commission, which I explained to the House on more than one occasion, it has been necessary to restrict very greatly the proceedings of the Land Commission with regard to acquisition. I had hoped, when the war began, that it would have been possible to continue the proceedings which had been commenced in respect of acquisition throughout the country but we found it necessary to restrict proceedings to cases of congestion. I do not think the area in question can be described as an area of acute congestion and, in any event, with the staff at my disposal, I am not in a position to undertake anything like the normal work of the Land Commission. I hope that Deputy Davin and other Deputies understand clearly that that is quite out of the question.
This is the worst case in my constituency. I do not mention the matter in any Party sense but will the Minister go down there and state, after examination, that there is no congestion in the area? In reply to a question addressed to him on the 26th June, 1940, he admitted that 1,200 acres had been inspected—in other words, that the preliminary work had been completed. Has he not sufficient indoor staff to take a decision and acquire some of the lands for relief of congestion?
We have not sufficient staff and we are likely to have less in the future.