asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists locally at the apparent neglect and failure of the Irish Land Commission to acquire for distribution amongst the adjoining small holders and tenants on the Goodall estate the lands of the late James Ryan, Coalteigue (Record No. U.9761, County Roscommon).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Lands.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that a Land Commission inspector entered the lands of the late James Ryan, Coalteigue, Roscommon, in 1937, for the purposes of valuation; if this inspection was preceded by the serving of an acquisition notice on the owners; if it was the result of urgent and repeated demands from the local small land holders; if he is aware that the lands have now been purchased by a Mr. Clarke; if the requisition notice was withdrawn in favour of Mr. Clarke's purchase, and what steps the Minister now proposes to take to relieve the local small land holders and allay the unrest and danger to the peace of the district now existing.
I propose to take together the Deputy's two questions relative to the lands of Coalteigue on the estate of the late James Ryan, County Roscommon. The Land Commission are aware of the conditions obtaining in the neighbourhood of this estate, which was inspected and valued in 1939 following a notice of the intention to inspect the lands. Owing to the emergency it has been found necessary to postpone consideration of the question of the acquisition of this estate as well as many others. The Land Commission have now been informed that the lands were recently sold to a Mr. Clarke, but otherwise they have no knowledge of the transaction and no ground to interfere.