asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that acute congestion exists in the townland of Ranahard, Coilmore, Claremorris, where there are ten tenants whose poor law valuations are under £3 each; and if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken by the Land Commission to divide the lands held by them in the vicinity of Ranahard.
Written Answers. - Congestion in Mayo.
The townland of Coilmore, on the Congested Districts Board (Ruttledge) estate, includes a large number of rundale holdings which require rearrangement prior to resale to the tenants. A comprehensive scheme is in contemplation for the survey and inspection of the Ruttledge and similar estates, and the examination of the question of possible relief by migration, but this will take a considerable time to complete, and the work is held up by the present emergency conditions. Pending the completion of the scheme, it would be premature to divide any untenanted land in the vicinity.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that acute congestion exists on the Algie estate in the townlands of Togher, Knocknadrimna, Kilvindony, Ballygarris, Kilskaugh, Ballinaglea, Brownstown and Stonepark, Hollymount, County Mayo, where there are over 30 tenants whose poor law valuations are under £8 each; and if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken to acquire the farm of the late Allan K. Algie, Togher, which contains over 350 acres, for the relief of the existing congestion.
Owing to the emergency conditions, the Land Commission are not taking any steps for the acquisition of the lands of Togher on the Algie estate.
In view of the unsatisfactory answer given by the Minister for Local Government to Question No. 41, and your own unwillingness to allow me to ask relevant supplementary questions, I propose with your permission to refer to this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair is the sole judge as to the number and relevancy of supplementary questions. Normally up to 40 questions used to be disposed of in half an hour; to-day, 50 occupied an hour and five minutes. The Standing Order allows half an hour for question time. The Chair has been very lenient. The House should be clear on that. No criticism direct or indirect on the Chair is called for.
Deputy Davin has no responsibility for the excessive number of supplementaries.
I want no comment on the Chair's explanation.
Has the Chair heard the remark of the Deputy?
Merely that Deputy Davin was not responsible for the number of supplementaries.
We are not in the Dublin Corporation now.
Will you keep the Minister for Local Government in order, Sir? He should not get away with everything. The Minister for Local Government can say anything he likes.