asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has yet handed over the lands of Moorepark, Kilworth, to the Land Commission for division amongst uneconomic holders and allottees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Lands.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange to have the lands of Moorepark, Kilworth, let in reasonable lots for tillage purposes this season.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. The lands of Moorepark, Kilworth, County Cork, have not yet been transferred to the Land Commission for sub-division as the necessary enabling legislation has not been enacted.
Pending the transfer to the Land Commission it is not proposed to have the lands let for tillage purposes.
Is the Minister aware that there are close on 1,000 acres of good tillage land there and in view of the suggestion made by the Government that we should have more production of agricultural produce by the general farming community one would think that land owned by the State would be used as an example instead of being used as it is, as a grazing ground.
My information is that there are about 450 acres of arable land there. During the emergency years a considerable portion of the arable land was let in conacre. From 1944 there was a progressive decline in the amount of tillage let there each year until 1949, when there were only 10½ acres taken, and at that time the commissioners had to have the land laid down and reseeded. In view of that and also the absence of evidence that there are applicants for any considerable amount of tillage there it would not be warranted to have the land let.
If the Minister receives applications for tillage there will he consider them?
That is a separate question.