asked the Minister for Lands if his attention has been drawn to the recent large-scale sale of lands in County Galway, which is apparently aimed at forestalling the proposed Land Bill; and if he will comment on this matter which is of grave public concern.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Sale of County Galway Lands.
51.
I have no information that a situation such as that mentioned by the Deputy has arisen. If that situation were true and the purchasers regarded as suitable, I would regard it as a welcome trend as it is part of the Government's desire and ambition to get land out of the possession of those who are unable or unwilling to work it.
For the Deputy's information, I can say that, in County Galway at present, some 94 properties, comprising an aggregate area of over 5,000 acres, are the subject of acquisition proceedings by the Land Commission.
Is the Minister aware that lands in which the Irish Land Commission have been interested have changed hands recently before the preliminary notice of intention to acquire could issue from the Irish Land Commission and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter?
As the law stands, what the Deputy has stated can happen and that will be the position until the law is amended. There is a hiatus in the law as it at present exists. I may say, however, that, generally speaking, for the purpose of the relief of congestion the Land Commission have power to take land anywhere irrespective of user.
Can they not always take it from the purchaser?
Could the Minister indicate if the provisions of the proposed new Land Bill will enable the Irish Land Commission to inquire into any abnormal movement of land ownership in areas of grave congestion where small farmers had high hopes of getting additions of land?
Who bought the land?
Who bought the land?
The Land Commission have that general power. The question of the other powers that it is proposed to give the Land Commission and the inducements it is proposed to offer owners to part with their land to the Land Commission should await the introduction of the Bill to the House.
Do I take it that if particular sales are brought to the notice of the Minister, he will direct the Irish Land Commission to institute a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding these sales, whether the land was held in fee simple or under fee farm rent or under leasehold? I should like the Minister to indicate whether he will bring in his new Land Bill before all the available land has been taken up.
By whom?
By land speculators.
Are they aliens or Irishmen?
Land speculators.
If there are any cases of which the Deputy is aware, and he gives me particulars of them, I shall be glad to bring the matter to the notice of the Land Commission for investigation. As I have said, generally speaking, if the Land Commission have not served the preliminary notice in a particular case before a sale, that sale can take place as the law stands at present and they generally wait then as a matter of practice to see how the new owner operates the land by way of user.