asked the Minister for Lands whether he intends to acquire for division the estate of Mr. John White, lands of Rahan, Carrickmacross, Receivable Order Number U. 106366, in view of the fact that the owner is a willing vendor and that there are a large number of congests and landless men in the area who have been taking conacre on this estate for several years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Estate.
The Land Commission have had under consideration the question of the acquisition of the lands of Rahans and Drumhillagh, owned by Mr. John A. White, and they decided to take no action in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that Mr. White wants to sell the land and that the tenants are very anxious to get it? In these circumstances surely the Land Commission ought to look into the question whether a rapid procedure might be evolved whereunder all parties would be satisfied. At present the land is lying untilled, unused and uninhabited.
The Land Commission, I am sure, had all the facts under consideration as regards the local circumstances but probably they had also to consider the fact that, with the greatly reduced staff in the Land Commission, it has been found necessary to make a decision not to initiate new proceedings for the acquisition of land except in very exceptional circumstances, such as urgent turbary cases or urgent cases in which land is required for afforestation. No further proceedings will be instituted for the present for the acquisition of land for division.
Would the Minister consider the desirability of discussing with the commissioners whether in the category of prior cases they would not include this case where the vendor is willing to sell and the tenants are willing to purchase? In such cases the usual elaborate procedure for compulsory acquisition of the land need not be anticipated.
Prior to the recent decision closing down on the initiation of new proceedings, the position was that the Land Commission was prepared to initiate proceedings in cases of extreme congestion, but I fear that even under the preceding procedure this case could not be described as a case of extreme congestion. No real congestion exists in the area.