Vol. 197 No. 2
asked the Minister for Lands what consideration is given to landless men, e.g. cottiers and farmers' sons, who apply for a division of land from the Land Commission; whether land has been allocated to them; and, if not, if it will be given to them in future.
94.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will consider giving five acres to cottiers who apply for a division of land from the Land Commission and who live within the required distance so that they will be in a position to keep a couple of cows and calves.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.
The claims of landless men, including cottiers, for allotments are fully considered by the Land Commission but, in present circumstances, I do not wish to be hopeful about their prospects. As I have pointed out on a number of occasions, having regard to the extent of the genuine congestion problem still awaiting solution—that is, amongst the people exclusively or mainly dependent on agriculture for a livelihood—I want to stress that the main emphasis of land policy must be directed towards uneconomic holders and migrants from congested areas with the objective of attaining for them family farms of the type enunciated by the Taoiseach.
Adoption of the suggestion made by the Deputy in Question No. 94 may occasionally prove possible from time to time but I would not encourage him to put too much faith in the extent to which it can be realised.
