asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the continuance of the rundale system on the Dickens estate, in the Courrane and Tonragee district, County Mayo (reference No. 46); and if he will take steps to have a reallocation of the land in this area carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rundale System in County Mayo.
The Dickens estate is one of the numerous congested estates noted by the Land Commission for possible rearrangement. As soon as practicable, a survey of this estate will be carried out and the course of further action will then be decided upon.
Does the Minister appreciate the fact that "as soon as possible" may mean anything? It has meant at least 25 years as far as administration is concerned. That is quite a long period. Will it mean another 25 years now?
What?
I expected that reply. Is the Minister also aware that the children on this estate have to remain at home from school in order to herd cattle during the tillage period? Secondly, is the Minister aware that the people are not able to avail of the farming improvements scheme? Thirdly, is the Minister aware that the Government have failed to settle the rundale system in Mayo on other estates, including the estate in question; that that failure is causing a number of legal disputes and necessarily incurring heavy costs to the tenants in these areas? Lastly, when will the Minister and his Government take this matter up and settle it once and for all? Never mind "as soon as possible", because that may mean anything—it may mean a generation or two.
May I ask the Minister in that connection if, with the gradual disappearance of the rundale system, the Land Commission is taking any precautions to place on permanent record an accurate survey of these rundale estates as an historical record of what everybody must agree is a unique system of tenancy in this country?
That matter is being attended to.