asked the Minister forLands whether he is aware that ten holdings were allotted this year to migrants from County Kerry on condition that the former holdings of the transferees would be used for rearrangement of holdings on unsold estates; whether he is further aware that such policy is detrimental to applicants from County Kerry inasmuch as it confines those eligible to tenants in unvested holdings, and if he will consider the matter at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allotment of County Kerry Holdings.
No such condition or policy as implied in the question governs the migration of tenants from County Kerry or elsewhere. In the selection of migrants preference is given to persons whose surrendered holdings, whether vested or unvested, will be of most benefit for the relief of local congestion, particularly, by facilitating the rearrangement of unvested holdings.
Is the Minister aware that tenants from County Kerry were recommended by officials of his Department? The main point put forward by his headquarters here in Dublin was that they were vested tenants and they could not be accepted. Even though local conditions warranted their transfer and officials in Tralee recommended their transfer, the migrants concerned were not accepted. That is why there is such discontent, that so many of them who are eligible are deprived of this transfer.
I think that most of the holdings in Kerry are actually vested and for the Deputy's information may I say that since 1st April, 1948, out of 15 migrants near or from Kerry, nine were vested and six unvested. That would indicate that there is no rule such as the Deputy seems to imagine in regard to migrating unvested tenants.
Is it not a fact that whether a tenant is vested or not it makes absolutely no difference to his selection for migration?
That is so.