asked the Minister for Lands if it has now been ascertained what acreage of the Inchiquin Farm; Dromoland, County Clare, is let for grazing purposes and if he will state whether such method of agriculture is considered good husbandry by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inchiquin Farm—Clare.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Land Commission will take into consideration, as an important item, but not as a sole criterion, the method by which this estate is worked when they are to decide whether it should be acquired.
Is the Minister aware that 500 or 600 acres of land have been let as grazing for the past couple of years although there are many people in the district who are anxious to obtain that land? Is it considered by the Land Commission or by the Minister to be good husbandry to let 500 or 600 acres of land in grazing while there are many people who could put that land to better use looking for it?
The Land Commission do take that factor into account in their decision to acquire or resume land. As a matter of fact, it is one of the excepted matters, the wording of the provision being:—
"The determination whether or not a holding had been used by the tenant or proprietor thereof as an ordinary farm in accordance with proper methods of husbandry."
Does it usually take them two years to make up their minds whether it is good husbandry or not?
They have not been two years in this case.