asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) what considerations are taken into account by the Land Commission when making decisions as to the propriety or otherwise of acquiring lands, (b) what categories of persons are regarded by the commission as uneconomic holders, (c) how the commission decide whether congestion exists in a locality, (d) the method of distribution of land acquired, and (e) the degree of priority afforded to the various categories of persons seeking land.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
The answers to the various parts of the question are as follows:—
(a) The acquisition considerations comprise all the factors which may have a bearing on the requirements of the relevant statutes. The principal factors are the character and value of the lands, agricultural production and employment thereon, the extent and user of the owner's other lands, if any, and the general circumstances of the owner and his family.
(b) Because of wide variations in agricultural and economic conditions in different localities, it is impossible to make a categorical classification in this matter. In general, a person is regarded as an uneconomic holder, if he is mainly dependent for a livelihood on the produce of a holding which cannot be regarded as adequate to support a family in frugal comfort, even under the best management.
(c) Issues about congestion are decided by means of detailed local surveys.
(d) The circumstances of potential allottees are checked by an inspector and are recorded in detail. The inspector then prepares a tentative allotment scheme which is examined departmentally and is finally settled by the Lay Commissioners, who have exclusive jurisdiction in this matter.
(e) The selection of allottees is governed by S.31 of Land Act, 1923, which sets out the various classes of allottees to whom advances may be made. The following order of priority operates:— displaced employees, evicted tenants, uneconomic holders, migrants, trustees for communal purposes, cottiers, and other landless applicants.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the total number of holdings for which negotiations for purchase have been entered into within the last 12 months by the Land Commission under Section 27 of the Land Act, 1950, (b) the total number of such holdings purchased within the same period in each county, and (c) the total acreage purchased and the total price paid.
In the 12 months ending on 30th November, 1955, the Land Commission entered into negotiations for the purchase, under Section 27 of the Land Act, 1950, of 28 holdings. Of this number, the Land Commission reached agreement in 15 cases involving a total area of 714 acres and a total price of £12,445 as follows:—ten holdings in County Mayo, two in County Cork, one in County Kerry, one in County Roscommon and one in County Galway. The proceedings for purchase have been completed in respect of nine of these 15 cases involving an area of 472 acres and a price of £8,122.
I appreciate what the Minister says, but would he be able to tell the House why no action has been taken under this particular Land Act to purchase holdings in the Midlands?
That is a separate question. The Deputy has asked in respect of certain matters.
The Minister has mentioned Cork, Kerry, Roscommon, Mayo and Galway. I would like to ask him why is it that the benefit of the Act has not been extended to the purchase of suitable holdings in the Midlands?
That is an entirely separate question, in my opinion.