asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission intend to acquire the lands on the Dooley estate, Cherry Garden, Daingean, County Offaly; and, if so, whether a scheme for division will be put into operation this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition and Division of Laoighis and Offaly Estates.
From the information supplied it is not possible to identify the estate in question.
Would the Minister make a further search of the records in his Department? If he does do that he will find that representations were made and particulars sent to his own office not very long ago.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission intend to acquire the Carter estate, Clonkeen, Portlaoighise, County Laoighis; and, if so, whether a scheme for division will be put into operation this year.
Proceedings have been instituted for the acquisition of these lands but it is not possible to state when they will be acquired.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether any steps will be taken by the Land Commission to acquire the Mooney and Duffy estates, Carracullen, Ballinahown, County Offaly, for the relief of congestion in the area.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the lands of Messrs. John and Thomas Duffy, formerly owned by Mr. Mooney. The Land Commission have no proceedings in respect of these lands.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what steps have been taken by the Land Commission for the acquisition and division of the Island Farm (Lyons), Abbeyleix, County Laoighis.
The Land Commission decided not to resume lands of Island belonging to the Reps. of Martin Lyons.
Can the Minister state the reason for that decision?
I am not aware of the reason and I do not have to give the reason.
There must be some reason.
Is the Minister satisfied there is no congestion in this particular area?
I am not aware of the position.
Then you should be. You are Minister for Lands. That is what you are paid for.
That is what the commissioners are paid for.
You are in charge of the Department of Lands and it is your duty to look after it.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission received an application over two years ago on behalf of a number of tenants on the Munn farm, Despard estate, County Laoighis, requesting the provision of separate receivable orders; and, if so, whether this application has been or will be sanctioned.
It has not been found possible to identify this matter from the information furnished. If the Deputy could supply the receivable order number of any one of the tenants interested it would facilitate identification, and I will have immediate inquiries made.
It is over a year since that information was supplied by me.
And I supplied similar information.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the lands on the Odlum estate, Cappincur, County Offaly, were offered to the Land Commission on several occasions by the agent for the owner, who is living in Australia, and whether the commission propose to acquire them for the relief of congestion.
This estate has been allotted recently.
Is the Minister aware that certain applicants for land were not interviewed by the inspector and can the Minister state the reason why they were not interviewed?
That question should have been asked as a question on the Order Paper.
I am asking the question.
It does not appear on the paper.
I know Mr. William Rooney applied for land over 12 months ago and was never interviewed by an inspector.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that the lands on the Marsh-Kellett estate, Tober, County Offaly, have been let by auction for the past 55 years, and that there is considerable congestion in this area; and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Land Commission to acquire and divide these lands amongst the local people.
Proceedings are in progress for the acquisition of this estate.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether a scheme for division is being prepared or has been sanctioned for the lands on the Gowing Estate, Ballyowen, Daingean, County Offaly; and, if so, whether it will be put into operation this year.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved.
Has the scheme been prepared?
Question No. 22.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether it is the intention of the Land Commission to acquire the lands on the Colton estate, near Daingean, County Offaly, for the relief of congestion in the area; and, if so, what steps have been taken to this end.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether a scheme for division is being prepared for the Trench estate, Ballybrittas, County Laoighis; and, if so, if he will state the acreage of arable land to be acquired for division amongst the local people, the acreage to be allotted to the occupant of the principal building, the acreage of turbary to be divided; and whether the scheme will be put into operation this year.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved. There are no buildings on the area of 490 acres the subject of proceedings.
Could the Minister say if it is proposed to leave the owner of this estate with 125 acres? Could the Minister say if the Land Commission have agreed to leave Mr. Trench 125 acres together with his recently-erected bungalow thereon?
I cannot say that, but the Land Commission has acquired 490 acres.
As far as I can see, you can say nothing.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission intend to acquire the lands on the Hipwell estate, Coolrain, County Laoighis, for the relief of congestion in the area.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the lands of Mr. Robert Hipwell in Derrynasura and Tinnakill. The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands.
Is the Minister aware that Mr. Hipwell was in the House last night and is most anxious to hand over his lands to the Land Commission for the relief of congestion with the least possible delay.
That may be.
Why is something not done about it?
It is not the Minister or a Deputy who decides what land will be taken. That is a function of the commissioners. It is reserved to them. Deputies may talk as much as they like about land being taken over and any Deputy who does not like the system has the policy in his own hands.
That is the policy that has Deputy Moylan on the far side of the House.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether a scheme for division is being prepared or has been sanctioned for the lands on the Kenny estate, Tinnakill, County Laoighis (Receivable Order No. 9780); and, if so, whether the scheme will be put into operation this year.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved.
Can the Minister say if a scheme will be approved? Is the scheme under consideration?
A scheme will be approved if and when the lands are taken over.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the lands of Dovegrove (Record No. U.366) on the estate of the Earl of Rosse, Birr, County Offaly, will be acquired for the relief of congestion in the area, and what steps have already been taken in the matter.
The Land Commission have decided not to institute proceedings for the acquisition of the lands in question.
Can the Minister give us any information as to the area the Land Commission considers acquiring in connection with the Lord Rosse estate at Birr?
I have not that information.
Why did you not bring the information with you?
That question has not been asked. The Deputy should not interrupt in this fashion, but should put down a question if he wants an answer to it.
The Minister should be prepared for supplementaries.
This is 25 years of age.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether a scheme for division is being prepared or has been sanctioned for the lands on the Weldon estate, Kilmasoney, near Athy, County Laoighis; and, if so, whether it will be put into operation this year.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved.
asked the Minister for Lands if a scheme for division is being prepared or has been sanctioned for the lands of Langford, Ballymacrossan, Geashill, County Offaly; and, if so, whether it will be put into operation this year.
A scheme has been approved, and it is hoped that allotment will be completed this spring.
asked the Minister for Lands whether a scheme for division is being prepared for the Alley estate, Knockaroe, Ballybrophy, County Laoighis; and, if so, whether it will be put into operation this year.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved.
Am I to understand that there is a scheme in course of preparation now after 25 long years? Is that the position?
The Land Commission takes land for the purpose of allotting it, and a scheme is prepared for the allotment of such land.
Would the Minister not agree it would be very interesting to furnish a report as to the relief of congestion?
It might.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will request a senior inspector to visit the Edenderry Electoral Area, County Offaly, for the purpose of preparing and submitting a report indicating (1) the number of smallholders under £10 valuation; (2) the number of such persons who are cottage tenants or have conacre lettings; and (3) the number of landowners with holdings of over £50 valuation with particulars of such holdings which are let by conacre to local congests, etc.
A report as suggested by the Deputy is not a feasible proposition in the existing circumstances and could not be undertaken without serious disruption to urgent work that is already in arrear.
Can the Minister give us any information as to whether it is the intention of the Land Commission to bring migrants to Edenderry?
That is not relevant.
The parish priest of Edenderry is kicking up war over it.
The allotment of land is a reserved function for the commissioners and if they decide to bring migrants from Donegal or Mayo neither the Deputy nor I have any say in the matter.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether a scheme for division has been prepared or sanctioned for the Coote bogs, Mountrath, County Laoighis; and, if so, whether it will be put into operation this year.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved. It is not possible to state when possession will be obtained as adjoining farmers say they have a claim to a large portion of the lands.
You will not have me behind that land policy, anyway. I can promise you that.
Are you not voting for it every day?
asked the Minister for Lands whether a scheme for division has been sanctioned for the Heath bog (Castletown estate), Errill, County Laoighis; and, if so, when it will be put into operation.
A scheme for the allotment of this estate has not been approved.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether any scheme for division has yet been prepared or sanctioned for the bogs on the estate of the Eard of Rosse, Birr, County Offaly; and, if so, whether it will be put into operation this year.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of the bogs in question,
Well, they should have.