asked the Minister for Lands (a) the number of local persons interviewed by the Land Commission Inspector who were applicants for holdings on the Crosby Estate at Hodgestown and Gilltown, County Kildare, (b) the number of acres allotted by the Land Commission on this Estate, (c) the names and number of resident dependants of each person to whom land was allotted, (d) the distances at which they lived from the divided land, (e) the number of acres which each person received, (f) the number of acres, if any, which such persons held at the time the additional land was allotted, (g) whether any of the applicants had any interest in lands previously sold, (h) whether an Old IRA man who was an applicant for land was excluded from the scheme of division, (i) why portions of the estate were not given to the local applicants who were uneconomic holders, and (j) whether he will make a statement on the equity of the scheme for dividing the estate.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Estate.
Following are the replies to the various parts of the Question:— (a) 61 persons; (b) 201 acres, approximately; (c), (d), (e) and (f) these parts of the Question relate solely to matters affecting the successful applicants on this estate. Whilst there is, of course, no secrecy regarding the identity of allottees of these or any other lands, I feel very strongly that there should be the least possible invasion of the affairs of private individuals — even when they are the recipients of allotments of land. For this reason — and having regard to the fact that the estate has been entirely allotted — I reluctantly give the particulars sought but only to such extent as will not disclose personal or family information obtained by the Land Commission on a confidential basis from the persons concerned. The replies are in the form of a tabular statement which I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report; (g) None disclosed for successful applicants; (h) No; (i) 4 portions of the estate were given to local uneconomic holders; (j) The claims of all applicants were fully investigated and considered by the Land Commissioners before the scheme of division for this estate was settled and operated.
Following is the statement referred to:—
|
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
(f) |
|
Allottee |
Approximate distance at which allottee lived from divided land |
Approximate area of allotment |
Approximate area already held by allottee |
|
Acres |
Acres |
||
|
High Cosgrave |
1 & 23/40 miles |
18 |
23 |
|
William Murphy |
61/80 miles |
15½ |
19 |
|
James Heffernan (herd) |
9/10 miles |
59 |
— |
|
James Ward |
3/40 miles |
6 |
½ |
|
James Cross |
7/16 miles |
64* |
9 |
|
Patrick French |
½ mile |
21 |
26½ |
|
William Byrne |
Adjoining |
9½ |
½ |
|
Patrick Ward |
Adjoining |
7½ |
½ |
* This allotment includes 40 acres of bog over which turbary rights have been reserved to the Land Commission. To date, 9 such rights have been allotted.