asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the number of acres at present held by the Land Commission in County Galway; (b) the number of acres of this land which is arable; (c) the number of acres of this arable land which is suitable for (i) wheat and (ii) beet; (d) the number of acres of this arable land which has been let for tillage this year; and (e)the number of acres of this arable land let for grazing this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of County Galway Lands.
The Land Commission have no hands in County Galway some 19,600 acres on estates taken over under the Land Acts 1923-1950. Of this area about 4,600 acres are arable. These areas fluctuate from day to day according as estates are acquired and lands allotted.
Records are not kept of the areas suitable for growing wheat and beet.
Lettings of the lands on hands are still in course of being made so it is not possible to state the number of acres which will be let in tillage and in grazing this year. As I stated in reply to a question on 11th of last month, I have arranged that the Land Commission will let in conacre tillage as much as possible of the lands in their possession which cannot be allotted this spring.
Can the Minister say how many acres have been let so far in conacre or tillage?
No, I cannot.