asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that as a result of the failure of the trustees of the Gaskell estate, Derryvoe, Bally-cotton, to repair and open the sluices on the estate there is constant flooding of the lands of the tenants on that portion of the estate which is the property of the Land Commission; that the lands have now deteriorated to such an extent as to compel the tenants to seek relief from rates on large portions of their holdings; that unless steps are immediately taken to relieve such flooding, the lands will become wholly derelict, with consequent losses to the Land Commission of the advances made for purchase of the holdings; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair Work on Gaskell Estate.
The flooding of certain holdings in the townlands of Bally-longane, Ballyhimikin and Garryvoe Lower has been investigated by the Land Commission and it is not their function to intervene in the matter. The holdings concerned were vested in the tenants many years ago and if the parties affected by the flooding so wish it is open to them to take such legal action, as they may be advised, to protect their interests.
I would like to ask the Minister whether the Land Commission can come along and have a compulsory purchase under the Compulsory Purchase Acts and purchase these holdings, leaving a strip of land in front still held by the landlord on which are situated the only sluices governing the outlet of the rivers through that estate? The Land Commission has left that strip of land there. The landlord lets it each year as a duck shoot and the more of the tenants' holdings that go west the better for the landlord.
Sin ceist eile. Sin ceist fada.
I want to see the Land Commission protecting these people.
The Deputy is making a speech.
To comment on Deputy Corry's statement, I told the Deputy before in the House that the land on which these sluices were situated was purchased under the Land Purchase Acts and therefore that the Land Commission has no power to interfere. Again, the tenants have a court to which I presume they can take the owner of the land who is not operating the sluices, or who is operating them at least in such a way as to cause damage to them. The Deputy was a member of this House when I was not and at a time when these lands were purchased and it is surprising that at that time he did not see that the Land Commission——
I am not as old as the Minister thinks.
It would be interesting to know how long this state of affairs exists.