asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that Cloonascragh Bog, in County Galway, was about six months ago taken over by the Galway County Surveyor from the owner thereof; that the maximum price offered to the owner for saved turf taken from this bog was and is 3d. per ton, and that arbitration as to the said price has been requested by the owner; if he will state the price per ton at which turf saved from this bog is being sold to the public, and when an arbitration to fix the price will be held.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Bog.
The facts are as stated by the Deputy. The procedure, under which the amount of compensation payable to persons having an interest in bog land compulsorily acquired by county councils is determined, is set out in Article 6 of the Emergency Powers (No. 73) Order, 1941 (Amendment) Order, 1941. I am not in a position to state whether any turf from the bog mentioned by the Deputy has been sold to the public. Arrangements have not been completed for arbitration in this case, but the matter is in hand.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give an approximate date as to when the arbitration will be established?
I could not. All I can tell the Deputy is that there will be no unnecessary delay.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if his undertaking that there will be no unnecessary delay entitles the owner of this bog reasonably to anticipate that arbitration will take place within the next six months?
I have nothing whatever to add.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary to add something.
I am unable to do so.
Is he in a position to say that the arbitration may reasonably be expected within six or 12 months?
I see that we have extended the period from six to 12 months. I should say that within 12 months the Deputy would be reasonably safe in expecting it. I hope it will be considerably earlier.
It would have been easier for the Parliamentary Secretary to say that at first. If he had desired to be civil, he would have.
Why should the Parliamentary Secretary desire to be civil to Deputy Dillon?
I cannot imagine. Knowing the Parliamentary Secretary, I should not expect him to be, and nobody else in the House expects it either.
I am sorry to have to interrupt this exchange of compliments. Question No. 13.