asked the Minister for Lands what is the cause of the delay in transferring the Courtown estate, County Wexford, from Bord Fáilte Éireann to his Department for afforestation purposes, and when the transfer is likely to be effected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Courtown Estate: Afforestation.
Investigation of title in this case has taken a long time and is the cause of delay.
Only one item on title clearance still remains outstanding, and I am hopeful that this will be cleared at a very early date.
I was given more or less the same answer last April. The negotiations in connection with this estate have, to my knowledge, been going on for three years. I have written to the Minister; I have requested several officials in the Department to expedite the matter, and I have also tried the State solicitor's office. Meanwhile people from the Gorey area are emigrating for the want of work which they could get on this Courtown estate.
I can assure the Deputy that although there is delay it is not the Department's fault in this case. It is attributable to people outside the control of the Department. If it were a matter for the forestry people themselves, this would have been cleared up long ago.
Could the Minister not telephone the State solicitor's office and ask them to expedite this case?
It is not the State solicitor's office who are holding it up.
Then who is holding it up?
I would not like to give the name.
It must be somebody in the Minister's Department or Bord Fáilte.
I can assure the Deputy it is not. It is a private individual outside over whom we have no control. If I were to ask that particular individual to expedite this matter he could tell me to mind my own business.
Would the Minister like to tell me who that individual is?
I would not mind telling the Deputy privately.