asked the Minister for Lands why the Land Commission decided to discontinue the proceedings for the acquisition of the Bowles estate, Banagher, County Offaly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Estate: Acquisition.
Mr. Egan
Though the Land Commission are not obliged to give reasons, I have examined this case and can assure the Deputy that the commissioners took account of all the relevant circumstances before deciding that proceedings should be discontinued.
Mr. Egan
Does the Minister not consider that the Land Commission should have acquired this land in view of the fact that there are numbers of smallholders living quite close to this estate? Would the Minister not consider that the land should be acquired in view of its close proximity to the flooded area of the Shannon Valley since it would serve a very useful purpose in providing land for some of the people whose holdings are subject to flooding? Furthermore, in view of the grave difficulty that exists in getting land for these people near their own holdings and their well-known unwillingness to take land further away, would the Minister not consider the desirability of acquiring this estate?
The Land Commission have to take account of certain statutory provisions in the acquisition and allotment of land. In this case they decided not to take the land.