asked the Minister for Agriculture whether applications have been received in his Department from tenants of purchased county council cottages for grants under the provision of the water supply section of the land rehabilitation project; and, if so, with what results.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cottage Tenants and Land Project.
Mr. Walsh
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I would refer him to the reply given to Deputy Corry on this point on the 30th May, 1950.
Will the Minister say whether these applications received from the tenants of purchased cottages have been treated favourably or not?
Mr. Walsh
My own personal view is that if you give special grants to agricultural workers living in the vicinity of towns, the county councils will run the risk of having the cottages sold to people who are in business of one kind or another and the value of the cottages will go up.
As a cottage cannot be sold within a period of 30 or 40 years and as the cottages were erected outside the urban area and the occupants qualified in general, why is it that they are debarred individually?
Mr. Walsh
They are not debarred individually. It is general policy. The Deputy is also wrong when he states that they cannot be sold for 30 years. That is completely wrong. They can be sold.
If I give the Minister one specific case, will he inform me as to why there was a refusal in that case?
Mr. Walsh
Yes, certainly.