asked the Minister for Lands (1) if any portion of the Midleton Park Estate, County Westmeath, has been acquired by (a) the Forestry Division, or (b) the Land Commission; (2) if representations have been made to the Land Commission to consider the propriety of acquiring portion of the lands for division amongst congests and landless men in the area; (3) if portion is still being utilised as a stud farm; (4) if any portion has been sold to individual farmers in Westmeath or from outside the country; (5) if there has been any change of ownership within the past two years, or if a lease has been made of any portion or portions of the estate to the original owners; and (6) if he is prepared to receive a deputation from the parish of Castletowngeoghegan to discuss the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Westmeath Estate.
I am in a position to announce that the Forestry Division are in the final stages of negotiations for the purchase of 366 acres and that the Land Commission are at an advanced stage of negotiations for the purchase of 208 acres of turbary.
Representations urging acquisition were received by the Land Commission, but, after consideration of the matter, the Land Commission decided to take no action regarding the balance of the estate.
As the Land Commission have no proceedings for the balance of the property, I should normally deprecate any attempt to elicit by way of question information of the confidential character sought at (3), (4) and (5). However, as the Deputy appears to be aware of the general trend of the owner's affairs in these matters, I think I may say, without offending propriety, in this particular instance that information before the Land Commission indicates that about 400 acres have been leased for continuation of the stud farm and that about 100 acres have been sold to two persons who already had the use of the land for some years under lettings.
The residue is dominated by substantial buildings of over £100 rateable valuation and these would necessarily require an extensive acreage of accommodation land for their upkeep.
As matters stand at present, I see no clear reason for my receiving a deputation but if such a request is made to me I shall of course examine it in the light of the considerations advanced.