asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have a scheme in course of preparation for the division of Dirrha West bog in the De Janasz estate adjacent to the town of Listowel, County Kerry, and whether he will ensure that, in the event of the bog being divided, the large number of people, including about 80 from the town of Listowel, who are already in possession of turf banks there, which they have developed and have been cutting for their own requirements over a period of years, will not be deprived of them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of County Kerry Bog.
The selection of allottees is a reserved function of the commissioners. All applications for turf banks on the estate will be fully considered before the Land Commission complete their arrangements for the allotment of the bog.
Is the Minister aware that he has not answered my question, good or bad? I asked the Minister whether the people of Listowel and elsewhere, especially the people of Listowel who are already cutting turf on turf banks which they have had for a number of years, will be left in possession of those turf banks if and when a scheme for the division of the bog will be carried out?
If the Deputy listened to the latter part of my reply he would see that I replied to the question. I said: "All applications for turf banks on the estate will be fully considered before the Land Commission complete their arrangements for the allotment of the bog." I am well aware that a number of people have conacre lettings on this bog at present. When the Land Commission take possession, they will go through all the applications for bog plots and I presume, in fact I am nearly sure, they will give plots to the most deserving cases. Let me say for the Deputy's benefit that if people who already have conacre lettings on the bog have plenty of bog on their own lands, I would not hold out much hope for them.
I am not concerned at the moment about the people who have plenty of bog on their own lands. Is the Minister aware that my question has been put to him in connection with a certain number of poor people in Listowel who have been cutting turf on this bog for many years and who have no other place to go to for turf? I simply want to know whether, in the event of this bog being divided by the Land Commission, the people who have been working these plots on the bog and who have spent money on the development of them will be allowed to continue to cut turf without being interfered with by the Land Commission?
As I have told the Deputy, all these applications for plots will be considered favourably by the commissioners. The matter of allotment is a reserved function for the commissioners and must be left to them. If they are competent for their job, they will do it right. If the Deputy is alleging something else, there is another way of dealing with that.