asked the Minister for Lands (1) how many acres of land acquired by the Land Commission were available for redistribution or the relief of congestion as at the 31st March, 1961; (2) how many acres of land were allotted in each of the years ended 31st March, 1960 and 1961, the number of allottees and the average acreage of holding allotted for each year; (3) the average price per acre (excluding land held in common) of land (a) compulsorily acquired, (b) acquired on a voluntary basis and (c) resumed by the Land Commission in every one of the last five years ended on the 31st March, 1961; and (4) how many holdings have been the subject of rearrangement by the Land Commission in each of the last five years ended 31st March, 1961.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Operations of Land Commission.
38.
As regards the first part of the Question, the position regarding lands in the possession of the Land Commission is subject to constant fluctuation. Apart from areas classified as turbary, woods and waste, the total area on hands at 31st March last comprised about 33,500 acres of arable and some 20,200 acres of rough grazing.
The replies to the remaining parts of the Question take the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following are the details:—
(2) Land division
|
Year ended 31st March |
Area allotted |
Allottees |
Average area of migrants' holdings |
|
Acres |
Number |
Acres |
|
|
1960 |
39,602 |
2,247 |
45 |
|
1961 (provisional) |
36,600 |
2,181 |
45 |
(3) Average price of land per acre
|
Year ended 31st March |
|||||
|
1957 |
1958 |
1959 |
1960 |
1961 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
(a) Compulsory acquisition |
31 |
28 |
36 |
39 |
36 |
|
(b) Voluntary purchase |
29 |
31 |
26 |
33 |
39 |
|
(c) Resumption |
34 |
23 |
12 |
25 |
18 |
(4) Holdings re-arranged
|
Year |
Number of holdings |
||
|
1956-7 |
447 |
||
|
1957-8 |
397 |
||
|
1958-9 |
686 |
||
|
1959-60 |
607 |
||
|
1960-61 (provisional) |
500 |