asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that members of the Old I.R.A. in County Sligo sought by sustained agitation to have the Parkes estate acquired by the Land Commission and divided; that when this was done, although a number of those Old I.R.A. men lived beside the estate and had conacre and grazing there for years, not one of them obtained a parcel of the land; that the North Sligo Executive of the Old I.R.A. sent to him a strong resolution condemning the way in which this estate was divided and that this resolution was not acknowledged: and if he will state whether it is the policy of the Land Commission to refuse parcels of land on divided estates to members of the Old I.R.A. and whether he has any observations to make on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - I.R.A. Men's Claims on Sligo Estate.
I strongly refute the implication in the question that, in selecting allottees, the Land Commission discriminate against applicants with I.R.A. service. Such applicants get special consideration over other applicants whose claims are not otherwise more deserving. The estate in question comprises 129 acres only. It was utilised to enlarge 22 small holdings in the vicinity and to provide an accommodation plot for an ex-employee. There were over 100 applicants for land, of whom only eight claimed I.R.A. service. One of these eight received an allotment.
The resolution referred to was received on 21st March, 1950, and was acknowledged by formal letter three days later.
Was any communication sent in reply to that resolution?