asked the Minister for Lands (1) if the Land Commission recently inspected the estate of De Vesci, Farmleigh, Abbeyleix, County Laois, with a view to division amongst local applicants, (2) if the report was considered, and if it was decided not to acquire the lands, (3) if he was asked to receive a deputation on the matter so that new facts relating to the estate might be conveyed to the Land Commission, (4) if he declined to receive such a deputation, and (5) if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Laois Estate.
The Land Commission, after making certain inquiries in relation to part of this estate, decided not to acquire the lands.
As sufficient information to enable a decision to be reached in the case was available to the Commissioners, it was felt that no useful purpose would be served by receiving a deputation in the matter.
In order that the Minister may have at his disposal further reliable information concerning the congestion that prevails in this district, would be receive the deputation now?
We have full information about the position in that district. In my view, the Land Commission can be safely trusted to make a proper decision in the matter.
I may take it, then, that it is since the Minister took office that this decision has been taken? The Minister's predecessor gave me an undertaking, which I conveyed to the local people, that suitable action would be taken with regard to the provision of these lands. May I take it that this decision has recently been taken by the Land Commission?
It is curious that the Deputy should make that statement. What Deputy Blowick as Minister made quite clear was that he could not force the Land Commission or compel them in any way to take any land.
Deputy Blowick's statement may have referred to the position in general. However, dealing with this particular farm, I received an undertaking from the Minister's predecessor that this was an ideal farm for division in view of the local congestion. Will the Minister now say whether this decision by the Land Commission not to acquire portion of the De Vesci estate was recently taken?
The decision was taken recently but the former Minister should not have given any undertaking of the kind to Deputy Flanagan as regards whether or not the estate should be acquired.
Question No. 30.