asked the Minister for Lands when a satisfactory supply of water will be made available for cattle on the lands of Mr. M. Boland, Bishopslane, Ballymore - Eustace, County Kildare, in accordance with the promise made to him by the Land Commission in 1955 when the present farm was given to him in exchange for his previous holding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare Farmer's Water Supply.
44.
The rearrangement of boundaries envisaged in the reply to the previous question on 22nd July last, has been discussed with the occupiers concerned but the consent of all parties has not been forthcoming. Investigation is continuing in an effort to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible.
Would the Minister say when it is anticipated this matter will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion? Seeing that it has been going on for four years we cannot be accused of peevishness in asking for a water supply after that length of time.
The Deputy will appreciate the consent of other people is necessary and it would be difficult for him to anticipate what the delay may be.
The Land Commission, who made a complete mess of the allocation of this estate, should not object to endeavouring to find a speedy settlement of this man's difficulties. There is an abundance of water there. There are four other allottees on the estate. Three of them have got water but this man, who gave up a well-watered holding in Kerry, has a holding in Kildare where he has no water except such as he can get from a pump on which he is spending 25/- a week. Surely the Minister ought to undo that in some way.
I do not know what the conditions were when this man was migrated. I understand he has a pump on his holding which many farmers have not got. I also understand the E.S.B. will have that area connected inside the next month or so and that the pumping of water will solve the difficulties there.
Is the Minister not aware that this man was brought to this farm and told: "Here is your farm and there is your water supply"? At the end of three weeks the water disappeared. The Land Commission has spent a considerable sum of money trying to find water on the land and cannot get water out of the land. Now they have managed, by the use of a pump and 25/- a week of this farmer's money, to get water. However, he was promised a holding on which he would not have to spend 25/- a week in perpetuity for getting water on the land when the supply offered to him disappeared after three weeks.
I am aware that many promises were made at that time. However, in so far as the Land Commission can ease this man's difficulties it will be done. They are actively engaged on that at the moment and if the consents they are looking for are forthcoming, I think the problem will be solved.
I hope so, but having regard to the way in which the Land Commission messed up the division of this holding, would the Minister kindly see that they bestir themselves and bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion at an early date? It is a scandal that it should be going on for four years.