asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the present position as regards the Carter Estate in Erris; (b) when it is intended to deal with the remainder of it, stripe holdings and make fences and other necessary improvements, and (c) whether it is intended to give housing grants this year on the remainder of this estate; further, whether it is intended to migrate tenants from this area in the near future to the Midlands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Position of Mayo Estates.
This is one of numerous congested estates in the Erris-Belmullet area, noted by the Land Commission for rearrangement and improvement as soon as circumstances permit. The rearrangement and improvement of portion of the holdings comprising the estate has already been put in hands. It is not possible to state at this stage when the Land Commission will be in a position to deal with the balance of the holdings comprising the estate. The question of fencing of holdings and the granting of housing assistance to tenants and also the possibility of migrating further tenants from this area will arise for investigation in connection with rearrangement. Meanwhile as regards housing assistance, it is open to any tenant who may care to do so, to apply to the Department of Local Government for a grant for building under the Housing Acts. If that Department makes a tenant a grant for the erection of a house containing four or more rooms, the Land Commission will consider making a loan in addition repayable by means of an annuity, subject to certain conditions. The making of a building advance by the Land Commission before rearrangement is completed is contingent on the possibility of finding a building site on the holding which will not conflict with subsequent rearrangement.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the present position as regards the Dickens estate, Currane, Achill; (b) whether it is proposed to give housing grants now on this estate, and also to stripe and fence the holdings of those poor tenants where there is widespread congestion; further, whether he is aware of the plight of those poor people as regards the rundale system and, if so, when it is proposed to remedy it.
Survey of the holdings comprising the Dickens estate, record No. S.5719, is a necessary preliminary to rearrangement, and the survey is at present in progress. The question of striping and fencing of holdings and the making of housing grants to tenants has been noted for consideration in connection with rearrangement. Meanwhile as regards housing assistance it is open to any tenant to apply to the Department of Local Government for a grant under the Housing Acts. If that Department makes a tenant a grant for the erection of a house containing four or more rooms, the Land Commission will consider making a loan in addition repayable by means of an annuity subject to certain conditions. The making of a building advance by the Land Commission before rearrangement is completed is contingent on the possibility of finding a building site on the holding which will not conflict with subsequent rearrangement.
Will the Minister say why the Land Commission refuse to indicate the amount of the loan they will give until the grant of the Local Government Department is sanctioned?
The capacity of the particular holding, in respect of which a loan is made, must be taken into account so as not to overburden the tenant of the holding with an annuity. The loan has to vary for that reason.
Cannot the Minister say why the prospective house builder will not be told the amount of the loan that will be available from the Land Commission before he starts to build? The Land Commission will not notify him of the amount of the loan until the Local Government Department have finished with the matter.
Until the Local Government Department has definitely decided to make a grant it is quite obvious that the Land Commission cannot decide the amount of the loan to be given in each particular case. The question of the grant has first to be decided by the Local Government Department. We cannot put the car before the horse.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the present position as regards the Stanuell estate, Shramore, Newport; (b) whether it is proposed to give housing grants immediately on this estate and also to stripe, divide and fence the holdings on the estate; straighten the river so as to ease the flooding of the tenants' lands; deepen the river near Furness, and have other necessary work carried out so as to ease the plight of those poor tenants who suffer hardship in this backward area.
The inspection of the holdings comprising the Stanuell estate, record No. S.2767, with a view to their eventual rearrangement and improvement is at present in progress. The question of eventual rearrangement of the holdings is complicated by the necessity for major drainage works which await consideration by the Drainage Board under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The question of housing assistance for individual tenants has been noted for investigation in connection with rearrangement. Meanwhile, it is open to any tenant who may care to do so to apply to the Department of Local Government for a grant under the Housing Acts. If that Department makes a tenant a grant for the erection of a house containing four or more rooms, the Land Commission will consider making a loan in addition which will be repayable by means of an annuity subject to certain conditions.