asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (i) whether a scheme for the distribution of the Kelly estate at Burren, Castlebar, has been submitted by the local office to the Land Commission for approval; (ii) the date upon which this scheme was submitted for approval, and (iii) the reasons for the long delay in dealing with this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kelly Estate (Castlebar).
This scheme provides, among other things, for disposal of lands in course of resumption and cannot be operated until the resumption proceedings are completed. There has been no avoidable delay in this matter.
Will the Minister state when this scheme was submitted by the local office to the head office?
That is a particular item of information that I will not disclose to the Deputy.
I have asked for this information and surely I am entitled to a reply? Why does the Minister refuse to reply and give the House the reasons for the delay? If the Minister wants to save time he will give me the information I have asked for and that I am entitled to receive; otherwise I shall have to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy is a solicitor and he realises that certain matters relating to the Land Commission are just as sacred or as secret as similar matters relating to work in the ordinary courts. For that reason, the Land Commission have a perfect right, when they think it is in the interests of the public, not to reveal certain items of information which cannot be of much use to the Deputy or the public and which may have a damaging effect on the final working out of the Land Commission's plans.
I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.