asked the Minister for Lands if he will request the Land Commission to carry out immediately a resettlement of the holdings in the Gortnatraw district of Carrowkeel, County Donegal, particularly as one holding, essential to any resettlement programme in the area, has recently been offered for sale by public auction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Resettlement.
The Land Commission fully appreciate the desirability of carrying out rearrangement in Gortnatraw South and are having inquiries made regarding a certain holding which, I presume, is the one the Deputy has in mind.
Is the Minister aware that, a fortnight ago, I sent the Land Commission details of this proposed sale and in the last week, again, nothing having been done, I rang up the Land Commission and I was then told they were making preliminary investigations? Is it not true that about ten years ago preliminary investigations were made to the satisfaction of the Land Commission who went to make a voluntary purchase of this same holding? Why is it necessary now to allow this farm to be sold, as it has been sold, while there is this congestion in the district and a rundale system operating which has caused untold trouble over the years and of which the Land Commission is very well aware? Is this their policy?
The determination of the particular land to be acquired is a matter entirely at the discretion of the Land Commission and, while I have no doubt that what the Deputy said about the locality is true, while the law remains as it is, the question of whether the commissioners will acquire or purchase any particular holding or estate is one for their own discretion.
May I ask the Minister is it not so that the Land Commission in the ordinary run of things carry out the policy of the Government in office? Is that not really their function, to carry out, within the framework of the laws of the land, the policy of the Government?
Quite correct but, if the Deputy is trying to insinuate that the policy of the Government is not to relieve congestion, he is making a complete misstatement. The policy of the present Government is to relieve congestion and to press the Land Commission to do so to the utmost extent.
General Government policy does not arise on this question.
But even the Government cannot give the Land Commission a direction to take up any particular holding or farm. The Deputy is long enough in the House to know that. If he does not know it, he should know it.
General Government policy does not arise on this question, only reference to the particular districts.
What I want from the Minister is this. It is asking a lot in respect of a very small holding but, knowing that he will have the interest of the relief of congestion at heart, I would ask him in this instance to urgently act in this matter and try to see whether or not the Land Commission are in fact using the powers that are at their disposal for the relief of congestion. My own opinion is that they are not.
The Deputy should not have remained silent so long.
He has not.
He has.
He has not. I am not being paid to run the Department.