asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the upper poor law valuation limit and (b) the maximum distance as regards residence now in operation in order that an applicant may qualify for an addition of land on the division of an estate by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Addition Qualification.
In the allotment of any estate, other than land purchased under Section 27, Land Act, 1950, all local uneconomic holders are eligible for enlargements. Because of wide variations in agricultural and economic conditions in different localities it would not be feasible to define, by relation to rateable valuation alone, what constitutes an uneconomic holding. 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. For the economic and proper working of an enlargement it is desirable that it should be within a reasonable distance of the allottee's residence. Such distance has been accepted as about one mile.
May I ask the Minister a very simple question?
Who knows whether it is simple?
If a man has a farm with a valuation of £18, is he entitled under any circumstances to an extension or to an allotment of land?
If the Deputy waits to read the reply——
I was listening carefully. It was balderdash.
The Deputy is, I think, inclined to judge other people's statements by his own standards.
That is enough. The Minister was asked a simple question and he could not answer it.