asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in connection with the payment of compensation to Mr. McGovern, formerly herd on the Duddy estate, Moyleggan, the amount and nature of the remuneration which the Land Commission ascertained was paid to this man by the late owners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duddy Estate (Meath).
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the amount of compensation the Land Commission propose to give to the man who has been herd for 35 years on the Duddy estate, Moyleggan, County Meath.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the condition of the house on the Duddy estate, Moyleggan, and if it is proposed to put it in order for occupation by the former herd; further, if he will state the size of the garden.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will allow Mr. McGovern, who was herd for 35 years on the Duddy estate, Moyleggan, keep for his stock until he procures grass for them elsewhere.
I propose to take together Questions Nos. 17 to 20, inclusive.
Mr. McGovern was a herd on the Duddy estate prior to its resumption by the Land Commission. It is proposed to give him a cash gratuity in respect of his displacement from employment and, in addition, he has been approved as the allottee for the house in which he resides, and the garden attached, for a nominal sum of 1/-. It is not proposed to repair the house. As to his former remuneration, this is a private matter between him and his former employer, and I am not prepared to disclose it.
As the estate has been allotted save for the house and garden referred to, I regret that it is not possible to accommodate Mr. McGovern as suggested in Question No. 20.
Is the Minister aware that this house is a complete ruin? Is he further aware that on Saturday morning the Land Commission shoved his six head of stock into a rood of land, known as the garden, enclosed them with a strong fence unknown to this man, and his cattle were left there for a considerable time, unattended? Is he further aware that this particular individual has been living there for 35 years and that he got very substantial remuneration from the late owners and he is now offered only the small sum of £83?
The house is not a complete ruin.
My information is that it is a ruin.
It is not a complete ruin, as suggested by the Deputy. It is the house in which he has been residing for the past 35 years. I am informed it is fairly substantial, but may be in need of some slight repairs. Also, he has got the house and garden as a free gift from the Land Commission, except for the payment of 1/-, which is purely a nominal thing, and he has got a larger gratuity than what the Deputy mentioned. Apart from that, this whole matter is a reserved function of the Land Commission and I have nothing to do with it. I am sure if the Deputy makes representations to the commissioners on the subject that they will, perhaps, review the case. Representations from the Deputy might have the effect of improving Mr. McGovern's position.
I would like to direct the Minister's attention to the fact that a tyranny is being exercised with regard to those houses at the present time.
The questions answered by the Minister refer to one herd; the Deputy is putting a general question.
Let me tell the Minister this is not an isolated case; it is only one instance of where they are tyrannising over these poor people.
The Deputy is raising a general matter. The question concerns only one case.
Is the Minister aware that there are 22,000 people living west of the Shannon on holdings with less than £10 valuation?