asked the Minister for Lands if he will state if the Land Commission have received applications for the taking over and division amongst uneconomic holders of land in the district, of the lands of Ballybraher, Ballycotton, which have been offered for sale by Messrs. D. & J. Ryan, Limited; and, if so, whether these lands have yet been inspected by the Land Commission and with what result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Land Acquisition.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that there is grave congestion in the Ballycotton district where there are a large number of tenants with holdings ranging from four to 17 statute acres each; and, if so, if he will request the Land Commission to take immediate steps to have the Ballybraher farm and two other holdings held by the same company, inspected with a view to ending such congestion.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to deal with Questions Nos. 14 and 13 together.
There are no proceedings in progress for the acquisition of any of the lands referred to in these questions, but inquiries are being made regarding them.
Is the Minister aware that these lands were offered for private sale and that there are, as I have stated, some 20 or 30 uneconomic holders in the immediate vicinity of these lands whose names have been forwarded to the Land Commission over two months ago. I would like to know if the land has been inspected?
It is intended to secure a preliminary report on them as soon as possible.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission have yet acquired the Flavin estate, Pillmore, Youghal; and, if so, if he will state whether the estate will be divided this spring; or, if not, whether the Land Commission will let the lands on suitable allotments to the large number of smallholders in the area in time for tillage purposes.
Proceedings for the acquisition of this estate are very far advanced—the price has, in fact, been fixed and accepted. Though I am hopeful, I am unable to be certain as to whether the Land Commission will obtain possession of the lands in time for tillage this season.
Will there be any objection to the present owner letting the lands, then?
The position is that we are awaiting further information from the inspector before we can decide whether it will be possible to put the scheme in operation this spring.
Considering that these lands were let, or were sold by public auction, and the price fixed over one and a half years ago, I cannot understand the delay of the Land Commission; and considering the fact that there is a very large number of small, uneconomic holders in that district who are anxious to get these lands for tillage purposes and to enable them to have economic holdings——
The Deputy is making a speech.
What I am anxious for now is that letting of these lands by the present holder will not be held up this season.
The Deputy is making a speech.
I do not think that there has been any avoidable delay. Compulsory proceedings were instituted for the estate in May, 1953, and the final offer for the lands was made in October.