asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the rundale system still exists in the townland of Cloonliffe, Ballinrobe, County Mayo (Knox Estate); that nine tenants are living on holdings with valuations ranging from £1 10s. Od. to £7; and if he will take steps immediately to rearrange the lands in this village, as there is sufficient land available there and all the tenants are agreeable to a rearrangement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rearrangement of County Mayo Lands.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will take immediate steps to rearrange the townland of Kilkeeran, Ballinrobe, County Mayo (Knox Estate); and if he is aware that the rundale system exists there, and that no attempt has been made by his Department to settle this townland finally.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will rearrange immediately the lands in the village of Clooneenagh, Ballinrobe, County Mayo (Knox Estate); and if he is aware that this estate is on the hands of the Irish Land Commission for 36 years, and that no steps have been taken to rearrange it during that time.
I propose to take together the Deputy's three questions, Nos. 26, 27 and 28.
The Knox Estate was one of numerous congested estates taken over from the Congested Districts Board upon the latter's dissolution in 1923. The Land Commission are fully alive to the needs of the tenants in the three townlands mentioned by the Deputy as well as in other parts of the congested districts, but shortages of building material and of experienced inspectors have made it quite impossible to complete the complicated task of rearranging the numerous holdings. It is essential in many cases to migrate some of the tenants in the first instance so that land may be made available for the enlargement of the remaining holdings and according as circumstances permit the Land Commission will press forward with the completion of all outstanding cases.
Surely the Minister can hardly expect us to believe that during the 24 years in which the Land Commission have had this estate on hands a shortage of materials and a shortage of skilled staff were the causes of the trouble? Is it not a fact that pure carelessness on the part of the Land Commission has resulted in these three townlands being left as they are for this number of years?
If it is necessary to migrate some of the people in order that land may become available to effect the necessary enlargements of the remaining holdings, time does not prove a solution of the difficulty in all cases. As I pointed out in the reply, there are several other difficulties as well.
My information is that none of these people want migration. All they want is a rearrangement. Will the Minister take this matter up with the Minister for Lands and see if he can send his inspectors in there at once to rearrange these three townlands? If he does, he will have no difficulty about migration or anything else. The tenants are only too willing that a rearrangement should be put into operation at once.
I have no doubt that the Deputy's information on this particular matter is quite extensive, but I am sure that the Land Commission also have a pile of information dealing with this matter after all these years.
They have a mass of information but they are making very little use of it.