andMr. Kitt asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will consider the advisability of bringing all tenants on the Cloonbrack estate up to the economic standard in the distribution of the Dillon lands before bringing in migrants from outside areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cloonbrack Estate Tenants.
As I have stated on many occasions, it is the invariable practice of the Land Commission before deciding on any scheme of allotment to consider the claims of all applicants and, in particular, the claims of local small-holders.
Is the Minister aware that the work of subdivision of these lands has been held up for a considerable time because the tenants have objected to the Land Commission taking in migrants until such time as they have dealt with the tenants on the estate? Is he further aware that it is a very large estate, that there is an enormous amount of congestion, that previously the Land Commission's policy had been to migrate people from it—they have migrated scores of families from this estate to other places? Does he not consider now that it is more economic to fix them in these lands that are convenient rather than take them away to somewhere else to fit them in?
I received a deputation a considerable time ago on this very subject from that area, headed by the local parish priest, and the matter was discussed. As a result, the commissioners and the inspectors reviewed the whole scheme. It is not correct to say that all the local congestion has not been attended to because the instructions the Land Commission have from me is to relieve all local congestion before any migrants or people from a distant area are brought in. The Deputy should realise that it is a matter that is handed over entirely by this House to the commissioners but once the commissioners have relieved any local congestion that may exist within a reasonable distance of the estate—which they have done in this case—it must be left entirely to their discretion to allot the remaining portion of the lands to any migrants to whom they wish to allot it or who, in their opinion, as the law determines, are best qualified, in order to relieve congestion in other areas.
I want to say further that I am aware of the fact that in many counties certain members of the Opposition are trying to arouse discontent by creating the impression or, at least, telling the people that local congestion will not be relieved. All I want to say on that point is that arousing discontent like that is no credit to those engaged in it and certainly will not do any good to the people. In case Deputies who are engaged in that work should have any doubts in the matter, I want to say that I will not allow it to hamper the work of the Land Commission.
Is this a lecture?
I want to ask the Minister can he tell the House why work is held up on this estate at the moment? Can he name any Deputy who is responsible for having it held up?
The Deputy might employ his own good offices to have the work recommenced.
I am prepared to do everything I possibly can, but I am sure that if I interfere or go into the Land Commission office, the Minister will be one of the first to tell me to mind my own business. There is a problem here where the people have objected and the Minister knows it. He is shelving his responsibility. Why is work held up at the moment? Why are the Land Commission not going ahead with the scheme started 12 or 18 months ago?
Deputies are not allowed, by the laws they make themselves in this House, to divide land. The sooner Deputies realise that the sooner they will save themselves a lot of trouble.