asked the Minister for Lands whether, in view of his promise to a deputation which he received in Tullamore in October, 1948, that the lands at Ballyhasson, Walsh Island, Geashill, Offaly, would be divided, he will now say what progress has been made in this connection by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Resumption of County Offaly Lands.
As a result of representations made to me when in this district, these lands were inspected by the Land Commission with a view to resumption, but the Land Commission decided not to resume. Following further strong representations made to me by the Deputies interested in this case I took the unusual step of having a special independent investigation carried out by an experienced inspector who had no previous official connection with the case or with the district. This independent investigation satisfied me that the facts and circumstances on which the decision not to resume the lands was based were correctly represented in the first instance.
Is the Minister aware that when he visited Tullamore he gave a very definite undertaking to a deputation, of which I was a member, that these lands would be acquired for division? Could the Minister say what has happened since to change the policy of the Land Commission in the matter?
What happened on that occasion was that I gave a very definite assurance, which was carried out, that I would bring the case to the notice of the Land Commission and do my best to have the Land Commission resume these lands, if they saw fit to do so. An inspection was carried out and the Land Commission decided not to resume the lands. Some time later, while the Deputy was indisposed, Deputies O'Higgins and Davin came to me and made a strong case that the Land Commission did wrong in not resuming these lands. It was then, as I pointed out in my reply, that I asked for a special investigation into the whole case and an outside inspector, who had instructions not to contact the local inspectors and to furnish a purely independent report, carried out an investigation and his report confirmed what had been previously reported. That is the history of the case.
Will the Minister say how he can stand over 425 acres of land not being resumed in a district where we have a number of uneconomic holders, while the lands are being used for the purpose of raising racehorses? Is it the policy of the Minister to defend a case such as that?
There are something over 300 acres in this holding, and 50 acres of that are moorland, cut-away bog and dangerous ground. While I agree that there is congestion in the locality, I must say that, from the reports, I fully agree that this is not the kind of land to relieve congestion in the locality. While the Land Commission will take steps to come to the relief of the congestion that the Deputy has in mind, this is not the kind of land we would acquire for that purpose, because we have enough of that kind of land already.
In view of the unfavourable reply, I propose to raise the matter on the adjournment, with your permission, Sir. I should like to say that the Minister is receiving a deputation about these lands to-day and, in the event of the result being favourable, there will be no necessity to raise the matter on the adjournment.