asked the Minister for Lands whether a survey has been made of the badly congested areas in western maritime counties, and, if so, if he will state the number of holdings with valuations (a) under £1, (b) of £1 and under £2, (c) of £2 and under £3, and (d) of £3 to £4 in each congested district and county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Congestion in Western Counties.
No general survey has been carried out but, if the Deputy has in mind areas where uneconomic holdings are in the majority, the Land Commission have full information concerning these areas. If the Deputy wishes information about any particular area, he might put down a question and I will be only too glad to supply the details.
Could the Minister get the information asked for in the question? It is not purely a question of giving trouble to the commissioners. It is information I would like to get, if possible. It is not in respect of one or two particular districts; I want it in respect of all.
A general survey?
If it is possible.
That would entail a great deal of the time of Land Commission inspectors and a certain amount of expense. A survey such as the Deputy has in mind may not reveal a true picture, for this reason, that the Land Commission have instructions to proceed first with the places where congestion is worst. It very often happens that a particular townland which is congested at the moment may not be congested in two or three years' time because some of the tenants there may have purchased land that was for sale in the locality and, if I may use the expression, thus relieved their own congestion.
Would the Minister make available whatever information is at the disposal of the commission at the moment in relation to a limited number of areas on which they are working and have been working? Would it be possible to get the information that they have?
I will see if that is possible and would not involve too much time. If there are any particular areas in which the Deputy has a particular interest and if the Land Commission has that information available in respect of them, I will be only too glad to supply it.