asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (1) when the Land Commission acquired the O'Farrell estate, Dalystown, Loughrea, and (2) when sub-division is to take place.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition—County Galway.
The Land Commission acquired the O'Farrell estate in December, 1949 and the estate of the Dalystown Company (formerly part of the O'Farrell estate) in November, 1953. The two areas totalling 773 acres will be dealt with together but it is not possible, at this stage, to say when allotment will take place.
Would the Minister not think it ridiculous that in relation to a farm acquired in 1949, and this is 1954, we cannot now have a statement from the Minister as to when that land will be sub-divided? In ordinary circumstances when a farm comes before a court for sub-division, it usually takes about 12 months. I think there should be some statement from the Minister in relation to this matter. There should be no difference between a ministerial Department and an ordinary individual where matters such as this are concerned.
It frequently happens that when there are two or more schemes of acquisition in question in an area and when the land on both schemes is required for rearrangement or for the implementation of the particular scheme the Land Commission has in mind the estate earlier acquired, as in this case, has to wait for the acquisition of the second estate before the scheme can be put into operation. I can assure the Deputy that is the cause of the delay. The inspector is working on the scheme at the present time. I can also assure the Deputy that there will be no avoidable delay.