asked the Minister for Lands why the lands in the hands of the Land Commission in the Clogheen and Shanbally areas, County Tipperary, have not been divided.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of South Tipperary Lands.
14.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of the hardships caused in the Clogheen area, County Tipperary, by the delay in dividing the lands acquired some years ago; and when it is proposed to proceed with division.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Numbers 14 and 15 together.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Estates of Collins-Cashen and Shanbally Estates Company.
Proposals for the allocation of these lands are at present in course of formulation and it is expected that some allotments will be feasible during the current financial year.
Is the Minister aware that the town of Clogheen has been left handicapped for the past five or six years awaiting the division of land in the Clogheen and Shanbally areas? No employment has been given in that period to any person in that area as a result. What is the use of taking over land if the Land Commission is going to hold it and let it to graziers for six, seven, eight or ten years?
The Land Commission has been speeding up the division of land required over a considerable period. As I have already indicated something like three times as much land was divided in County Tipperary in the last financial year as in the previous financial year and the work will be expedited as much as possible.
Will the Minister tell us that any business firm would take over that amount of land in the Clogheen and Cashen areas and have it on hand for six or seven years leaving the people without means of living?
There are frequently reasons why there must be some delay in the division of lands throughout the country but I have already indicated that every effort is being made to divided these lands as quickly as possible.