asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the present position regarding the acquisition of the lands of Mr. John Sullivan, Gluanbrack, Rosscarbery, County Cork, and whether it is the intention of the Land Commission to confine the division of these lands to local residents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition and Distribution of Lands.
Mr. Murphy
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands.
Mr. Murphy
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission intend to acquire the holding at Cahergarriff, the property of the late Mr. Tim Lehane; and, if so, whether he will urge on the Land Commission the desirability of expediting the acquisition.
Proceedings have been instituted in respect of these lands.
asked the Minister for Lands whether, in view of the acute congestion which exists in the Sligo-Leitrim area, the Land Commission will acquire the holding formerly in the possession of Mr. Andrew Henry, Cloghter, Cloghboley, County Sligo, which is now in the possession of a Mr. Michael Leyden, Cloghboley.
The Land Commission have decided to take no action for the present for the acquisition of these lands.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have received a request from congests in the townland of Raigha, Maam (Estates Nos. S.6460, S.6417, S.6412), to acquire for their relief a farm of 700 acres at Derreen, Maam, now on offer for sale; and, if so, whether the Land Commission propose to accede to it.
The Land Commission are aware of the necessity of rearranging the townland in question but the decision as to the particular lands to be utilised for that purpose is a reserved function of the commissioners.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission propose to acquire the Wilson-Lynch estate, Belvoir, Sixmilebridge, for division amongst the adjoining congests; and, if so, when the necessary action will be taken.
This case has already been noted for investigation.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission propose to resume the holding at Newcastle, Grenagh, Blarney, County Cork, now held on a letting of 11 months by Mrs. O'Mahony, and at what stage the proceedings are in the matter.
Proceedings with a view to the resumption of these lands are in the initial stage.
Considering that this matter has been in the hands of the Land Commission for quite a long time and that there are numbers of families in that area without any land, will the Minister see that it will be speeded up?
Yes, I will.
asked the Minister for Lands what steps are being taken by the Land Commission to acquire the estate of Mrs. Gasteen near Clonard, County Meath, for division among local congests.
The Land Commission have this case under consideration.
asked the Minister for Lands whether representations have been made respecting the acquisition and distribution by the Land Commission of the McAuliffe farm at Moyfadda, Labasheeda, County Clare; and, if so, whether he will state what decision has been arrived at in the matter.
The acquisition of these lands is under consideration.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when the Land Commission propose to acquire and distribute the Jackson property at Kilfenora, County Clare.
asked the Minister for Lands if he can state when it is proposed to have the Jackson estate, Moy, Lahinch, divided amongst the congests in that area.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will take together Questions Nos. 12 and 13.
The Land Commission expect to be in a position to allot these lands early in the new year.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have yet taken steps to acquire for the relief of congestion, the non-residential farm at Tonlagee, on the Reynolds estate, belonging to Mr. Peter Kelly.
As I have already informed the Deputy, the Land Commission have decided to take no action for the present for the acquisition of these lands.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it possible to get any information from the Land Commission as to the basis for their decision in this respect?
They are not obliged to give the reasons for their decision.
Then no information can be given for the benefit of the people or for the benefit of the people who live in a particular congested area as to why the Land Commission have failed to take any action in a matter of this kind?
Under Section 6 of the 1923 Act the acquisition of land is a function reserved to the commissioners. It is a matter entirely for them. There is a Land Bill pending, which is in the hands of Deputies at the present time, and under that Bill they will have an opportunity of altering the present position if they so desire.
Can the Minister say whether any representations have been made to him to have the division of this particular farm of land held up in the interests of a particular individual in the locality?
That is a separate question, but not that I can recall.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission propose to acquire the non-residential farm held by Mr. Joseph Coen, Knockglass, Ballinameen, Boyle, on the Balfe estate, for the purpose of relieving congestion in the locality.
This case has been noted for consideration.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state how many acres of land in County Meath were acquired by the Land Commission since 18th February, 1948, and how many acres will be allotted in the coming 12 months.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) what estates (with their locations) in County Meath were acquired by the Land Commission since 18th February, 1948; and (b) the number of estates, with their names, locations and acreage, listed for acquisition.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will take together Questions Nos. 16 and 17.
As the Deputy is aware, land acquisition is a slow and protracted procedure at present. When the Land Bill, recently circulated, becomes law, many of the delays attaching to land purchase will be eliminated, while the payment of market value for land will result in greater satisfaction for all parties to the proceedings.
As regards the Land Commission's recent activities in County Meath, proceedings have been instituted in respect of 6,000 acres while a further 4,000 acres are under consideration. It is impossible to forecast what area will be allotted in the coming 12 months.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission intend to acquire the Langford estate, Summerhill, County Meath, for division amongst the local congests and uneconomic holders; and, if so, whether he will state the cause of the delay in proceeding with the acquisition.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands.