asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that there are three non-residential holdings in the townland of Crossbeg, parish of Aghamore, County Mayo, which a number of small landholders adjoining are anxious to acquire for the enlargement of their holdings; that the lands have been jointly held by them for grazing for the past nine years, and that repeated promises have been made to have the grievance under which these tenants labour satisfactorily dealt with by the Land Commission; and, if so, and in view of the fact that negotiations for the sale of one of those holdings by private treaty are in progress, if he will ensure that the lands comprised in those holdings, amounting in the aggregate to 32 acres, will not be dealt with piecemeal, as such a course would circumvent any scheme for their just and economic distribution amongst those tenants who, holding the grazing rights so long, are all entitled to equal consideration in their final allocation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Small Landholders in County Mayo.
The question appears to refer to the holdings in the townland of Crossbeg of Michael Healy (containing ten statute acres), James Moran (containing seven statute acres) and the representatives of Thomas Boland (containing 12 statute acres). The Land Commission do not propose to take any action regarding the acquisition of these small holdings. So far as the Land Commission are aware the adjoining tenants have no grazing or other rights on these lands and appear to be merely trespassing on them.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he not aware that the adjoining tenants have not grazing rights on these lands? I am aware of it, and so are the adjoining tenants. I am also aware that it was the policy of the Government and of the Minister's Department that when these holdings became vacant—there is no heir to them—they should be divided amongst the tenants in the local area. Now the Department is allowing them to be purchased, and in that way is helping to maintain congestion in the area.
Does the Deputy desire to put a supplementary question on the matter?
That is a supplementary. The Minister has denied that the adjoining tenants have got grazing on these lands.
That is not a supplementary. Question 34.