asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the present position regarding the division of the Caherguillamore Estate, County Limerick, the persons to whom sections of the estate have been granted to date; whether a migrant or a number of migrants has been allocated land, and, if so, whether in view of the acute congestion existing in the area and the large number of uneconomic holdings, he will state the grounds on which such allocation was made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Limerick Estate.
The entire of this estate comprising 138 acres in the townlands of Caherguillamore, Rockbarton and Raheen was allotted last month. It is not the practice to furnish the names of allottees but 39 acres were used to enlarge two local uneconomic holdings; an area of 18 acres was allotted in connection with partial exchanges for two local landholders whose surrendered lands provided enlargements for two further local congests; while the balance of the estate, comprising 81 acres, was utilised to provide two holdings for migrants. I am informed that the needs of deserving congests in the immediate vicinity were catered for in the division of the estate.
Is the Minister aware that there are two uneconomic holders bounding the estate, one of whom is in possession of six statute acres and the other in possession of only 12 statute acres? Is the Minister further aware that we have enough uneconomic holders in Limerick without people from Clare being pushed on top of us? Is he aware of the tumult which would arise if the Clare Deputies were put in the same position as us?
I understand that the claims of uneconomic holders in the area were examined and that a decision was made by the commissioners. In regard to migration, the principle has been accepted on both sides of the House for many years regardless of the difficulty. I think the actual figures are that we managed to migrate some 500 farmers in the course of the last ten years. I do not think it caused undue disturbance in the area.
The Minister did not give me a satisfactory answer. How is it that there are two uneconomic holders bounding this estate? We never got divided land in the past.
It is not the practice to answer questions regarding individuals who have not been allotted lands. The matter is one for the Land Commissioners and I am satisfied that their general conduct in these matters is correct.
Further arising from the Minister's reply, I understood from his speech last night that a new dawn of promise was arriving.
The Deputy is not that innocent.
This was done in haste by the Coalition Government and I want to know why these two people were brought from Clare. The Coalition would not like that answer.