asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the number of defaulters for each county under the Compulsory Tillage Order for the season 1941-42; (b) the total number of cases where compulsory entry was made by officers of his Department to enforce the Order; (c) the total acreage acquired by such entry; (d) the methods adopted in effecting the cultivation of such lands; (e) the average percentage of arable land acquired for cultivation where compulsory entry was effected; (f) the total number of prosecutions brought under the 1940-41 Order; (g) the number of successful prosecutions; (h) the average fine imposed for each default.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tillage Offences.
Final reports have not yet been received from the inspectors in respect of the current tillage season, and it is not, accordingly, possible at present to indicate the number of defaulters in each county under the Tillage Order.
Entry was effected in 116 cases. Tillage in respect of 75 of these holdings was carried out by means of conacre lettings, and, in the remaining 41 cases, the inspectors employed contractors to cultivate the holdings. The total area of the holdings acquired was 6,158 statute acres. The total area cultivated on the entered holdings was 2,026 statute acres—through conacre lettings, 1,516 statute acres, and direct action, 510 statute acres. The percentage of arable land cultivated on holdings entered was 33 per cent.
Four hundred and thirty occupiers were prosecuted for their failure to comply with the requirements of the Order in 1941; 341 cases have been heard in the courts up to date, and 339 convictions obtained, the fines imposed ranging from 1/- to the maximum of £100. One case which was adjourned has not yet been heard, and another case was dismissed without prejudice.
Will the Minister say what he means by "direct action"? Does he mean the Department took direct action and the land was tilled under their supervision?
Yes. An officer of my Department hired the necessary implements, supplied the seed and so on.