asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that, in the cases of nine tenants alloted holdings on the Bradshaw Estate, Carrigataha, Cahir, County Tipperary, and the Denny Estate, Ballybrado, Cahir, County Tipperary, no water supply has yet been made available; and if he will state what action his Department propose to take in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Holdings.
The Land Commission have placed a contract for the boring of two wells for the use of allottees in Carrigataha and Ballybrado but progress has been delayed by the shortage of essential boring equipment. The Land Commission will continue their efforts to have the wells completed with the minimum delay.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that the fencing of the holdings on the Bradshaw Estate, Carrigataha, Cahir, County Tipperary, and on the Denny Estate, Ballybrado, Cahir, County Tipperary, has not been completed; and if he will state when it is proposed to do so.
The lands of Carrigataha and Ballybrado were divided in 1935 and 1937 respectively. All fencing for which the Land Commission assumed responsibility has long since been completed.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that of the 15 holdings on the Kennedy Estate, Knockeeran, Clerihan, Clonmel, County Tipperary, while two have been vested, 13 have not been vested; and if he will state when it is intended to vest the latter holdings.
The Deputy's information is not quite correct. There are 18 allotments on the Kennedy Estate at Knockeeran of which 12 have been revested. It is not possible to state when the remaining cases will be revested but there will be no avoidable delay.
What is delaying the vesting?
There are several factors that might hold up the vesting. I do not profess to be very familiar with this subject, but there are often reports on the way in which lands are being worked and other factors too have to be taken into account before a firm decision can be made.
This position has existed since 1937.
There is no time limit in that connection.
Is the Minister aware that in the agreements signed by these people for holdings there is a definite time limit fixed of seven years?
The Minister is not aware of the provisions of the agreements that are signed, but he is aware that it would be very foolish to fix any time limit in a matter of this kind.
But when there is a time limit fixed?
I am not satisfied that there is, because if there was it would be enforceable.
By the Minister, but not by the unfortunate tenants.
Is the Minister in a position to say whether any representations have been made to any of these people that they are not working their lands properly?
It might be a matter of not having got up-to-date reports as to the way in which these lands have been worked. Every member of the House gets representations from these people and all of us have a certain knowledge on this particular point.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that of the 32 holdings and allotments on the McCraith Blakeney Estate, Loughlohery, Cahir, County Tipperary, while 17 have been vested, 15 have not been vested; and if he will state when it is intended to vest the latter holdings and allotments.
Twenty-four of the 36 allotments on the McCraith Blakeney Estate at Loughlohery have been revested. The remaining cases are under examination but it is not possible to state when vesting orders are likely to be made for them.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that no holdings, on the following estates in County Tipperary, have yet been vested, viz. :—O'Keeffe Estate, Donoughmore, Listronagh, Clonmel; O'Neill's Estate, Lisronagh. Clonmel; Harty Estate, Rathkeeran, Clonmel; Mulcahy Estate, Graigue, Poulmucka, Clonmel; English Estate, Derrygrath, Clonmel; O'Shea Estate, Ballydoyle, Fethard; Bradshaw Estate, Carrigataha, Cahir; and Denny Estate, Ballybrado, Cahir; and if he will state what is the reason for the delay, and when it is expected that the vesting will take place.
While the Deputy's information is not entirely correct the position is largely as stated in the question. In past years, adequate progress in the vesting of land in tenants and allottees was impossible by reason of prior staff engagements on land division programmes and, subsequently, on emergency duties. A big improvement has been achieved recently and every effort is being made to expedite this important work of vesting.
The unvested cases listed in the question will be dealt with when they are reached in the ordinary course but it is not possible at this stage to say when they are likely to be vested.