asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when proceedings for the acquisition of the Weldon estate, Kilmorony, County Laoighis, were first commenced, whether the present owner has eight other holdings in an adjoining county and has recently deprived local smallholders, cottage tenants and landless men of conacre lettings and if he will now state whether the Land Commission have considered the propriety of acquiring these lands for the relief of congestion; and, if so, with what result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leix and Kildare Lands.
Proceedings were instituted in December, 1949, for the acquisition of parts of the lands of Kilmorony and Grangemellon in Counties Leix and Kildare respectively, on the former Weldon estate, now the property of Mr. James Owens. The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of the other lands in Mr. Owens' occupation, nor have they any information regarding the allegation made in the remainder of the Deputy's question.
Will the Minister say if proceedings were not commenced previous to 1949 and, if so, has there been at any stage in this case a decision not to acquire these lands?
My information is that inquiries were made and inspections made, but that proceedings were not actually instituted.
Is it not a fact that this case has been under consideration by the Land Commission for about 18 years? Is that not quite long enough to enable them to make up their minds?
In view of the fact that the Minister has stated that the Land Commission have been actively interested in portion of the land, can he tell the House whether it is the portion owned presently by Mr. Owens or the remainder of the estate?
I cannot.
Why do you not bring the information in with you?
Question No. 14.
What is the use of putting down a parliamentary question if you do not know?
What is the use of taking away certain powers from the Minister, as was done by an Act of this House of which the Deputy is a member, and then expect the Minister to be responsible after tying his hands?
All we want is to get the information.
You are getting the information.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether he has received strong complaints regarding the alleged unfair division of the Kenny estate, Tinnahill, County Laoighis (Receivable Order No. 9780), whether it is correct to state that a number of smallholders and cottage tenants residing around these lands and who had conacre lettings or grazing rights were excluded from the division scheme and if he will state what action, if any, he has taken or proposes taking in this case.
The scheme for the allotment of this estate provides enlargements for five local smallholders and a cowpark for allotment to trustees. I am satisfied that the approved scheme is the best that could be prepared, having regard to the limited amount of land that was available.
Will the Minister answer that part of the question in which I have asked him to state the reason for excluding cottage tenants who had conacre lettings on this small estate over a number of years and who live alongside the estate?
That is a function over which I have no control.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the lands (309 acres) on the Fisher estate, Timogue, Stradbally, County Laoighis (Record No. 13585), were let by conacre to about 20 local smallholders, cottage tenants and landless men for over 30 years; whether the lands were recently purchased by an outsider who has deprived the conacre tenants of their previous means of livelihood; whether the Land Commission had instituted proceedings for acquisition previous to the recent transfer of ownership; and, if so, when such proceedings were first commenced; and if he will now state if the Land Commission still propose to acquire these lands for the relief of congestion.
I understand that this estate had been let for a number of years and that it was recently sold. The Land Commission have decided to defer consideration of the question of acquisition in this case as a result of incidents which have led to court proceedings and are, I understand, sub judice.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the number of holdings purchased at public auctions by the Land Commission in County Mayo for the relief of congestion under the provisions of the Land Act, 1950.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply of the 16th of this month to a similar question.