asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have at any time in recent years acquired an estate for division either in Tuam, County Galway, or in County Roscommon from a Mr. Bleahan; and, if so, what was the area of such estate or estates; and if he will indicate the reasons which the Land Commission had for acquiring them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway and Roscommon Estate Acquisition.
80.
An area of 193 statute acres in County Galway is being acquired from an owner of this surname for the purpose of resale in accordance with Section 25 of the Land Act, 1936.
Would the Minister say is it correct that this gentleman should give his land in County Galway to the Land Commission and then come in and buy a farm of 380 acres about which the people of Redwood were carrying out a quite peaceful agitation in that they were proceeding in a very legal manner? I would ask the Minister to ensure that when the Land Commission acquire land in any other part of the country the smallholders in Tipperary will be protected and that the Land Commission will have the right to acquire land for division amongst them.
The question relates to a specific transaction in County Galway. As I have indicated in my reply, this land is being acquired for the purposes of Section 25 of the Land Act, 1936, which deals with migrants' holdings. Of course, the owner or any other person is quite free to purchase land which is put up for auction in any part of the country, if he so desires. I have received representations about the sale in County Tipperary to which the Deputy refers. All I can say on that matter is that enquiries are being made by the Land Commission.
I do not want to put the Minister in an awkward situation.
The Deputy is not putting me in an awkward situation.
I would ask the Minister to use his offices to ensure that where the Land Commission acquire land in one part of the country the person from whom they acquire it will not come into a very congested area and there acquire land at the expense of the smallholders in the area.
That is not a question.
Sorry, Sir.
It is no reflection on the individual concerned that these lands were taken from him in Galway. They were taken for the purposes I have indicated in my reply, for resale to the bodies specified in the section of the Land Act. He was quite free to buy land elsewhere.