asked the Minister for Lands if he will take immediate steps to hand over the cut-away bog to Martin Coyne, Junior, Knockroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, now that the turbary has been completely cleared off it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Turbary.
When reserved turbary on a holding is exhausted the cut-away reverts without formality to the tenant of the holding. In the circumstances, the need for action by the Land Commission along the lines suggested by the Deputy does not arise.
Do I understand from the Minister that the cut-away bog reverts automatically to the previous owner when the turf is all cleared away?
What happens is that a certain allotment is given to a particular tenant with rights of turbary over that allotment until the turbary is exhausted. When the turbary is exhausted the land on which the turbary has been cut goes to the person to whom it was allotted originally.
In this particular case the three persons to whom the turbary was allotted some years ago now refuse to give it up on the ground that there is some turf there, while in fact there is none. How is Martin Coyne going to prove that the cut-away bog should now revert to him? Has he to use force or will the Land Commission come to his assistance, or what is he to do?
I do not think it is a matter for the Land Commission.
The Land Commission gave the turf on the bog to these three people on the understanding that the cut-away bog would revert to this man.
That is true.
Now they say that there is turf there still, while there is none. Is not that a nice mix-up?
It is a matter for legal action against those people.
Who is to decide that the turf is cut away?
I cannot say.