asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state what is the cause of the delay in paying compensation to Mr. James Grennan, Cool-carrigan, County Kildare, in respect of land acquired from him by the State for turf production purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation Claim (County Kildare)
The lands in question have been utilised as a site for the erection of a camp for the housing of workers engaged on the production of turf and it is, therefore, proposed to purchase the lands. Agreement as to price has been reached and when the legal investigation of the vendor's title is satisfactorily completed the purchase money will be paid.
The land was acquired from this man in 1941, and is the Minister aware that he has suffered very considerable inconvenience by reason of its acquisition by the Turf Development Board? Will the Minister give an indication when this poor person, who is a very small farmer, is likely to receive compensation for the land that has been acquired? This matter has been going on for quite a long time.
As soon as the person concerned can show he is the owner of the land beyond all question, payment will be made. State money cannot be paid out until the title is definitely established.
But this man is an allottee of the Land Commission and surely there should be no difficulty in ascertaining title?
Apparently there has been.
Will the Minister say what the difficulties are?
I could not say, but there are difficulties.
In view of the fact that this man is in poor circumstances, will the Minister cause a special inquiry to be made? Already a portion of his small holding has been taken. It is bad enough to penalise him by taking his land, but it is worse to leave him without any compensation.
I understand the Chief State Solicitor is endeavouring to get this matter settled.
But this matter has been going on for years and it would not seem that there was any excessive amount of perspiration, seeing that the officials have taken at least three years to inquire into the case. This man is an allottee of the Land Commission and I would like to know what difficulty there is in ascertaining his title.
It is up to the man concerned to show definitely that he is the owner. The Chief State Solicitor has no desire but to facilitate him. There is no question of money involved; it is only a question of establishing title.
I suggest that this man ought not to be put in the position of being up against all the machinery of the State in the matter of producing title deeds. The man is an allottee of the Land Commission and surely it should be easy to discover the title deeds. He is a poor person. Will the Minister take special steps to have this matter investigated? I have made representations to the Department concerned on a number of occasions, but settlement of this man's claim seems to be as far away as ever.
The person concerned is not up against any State machine, such as the Deputy has suggested. The land has been acquired, the amount to be paid has been fixed, and the only question is to whom that money is to be paid.
Does that mean that the Minister can take a man's land, the land he is in possession of? Say I am in possession of a particular farm and I have the usage of it. Does this mean that the Minister can come in and take possession of that farm, take it from me? Because I cannot prove title, you are going to hold it?
The State is under obligation to pay compensation only to the owner.
Does it mean that if you are not able to get title you must get out of your farm?
Is the Dáil to contemplate the payment of money to people with faulty title?
May I point out again that this man is a poor man? An offer to compensate him for the land has been made on the assumption that the land is his. The land has been taken from him for three years. Surely it should be possible to arrive at some settlement after negotiations have been going on for three years, particularly as this man is a Land Commission allottee? Will the Minister direct somebody to bring this matter to a conclusion?
Every effort is being made to bring it to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
There have been three years of fruitless negotiation. This man cannot live on air. Will the Minister ask someone to bring the matter to a conclusion?