asked the Minister for Lands if he will give an account of the way in which the Phelan Estate, Kilgainy, Clonmel, was divided, including the names of applicants who were given land and the amount of land awarded to each applicant; if he is aware of the considerable public disquiet which exists in the area on account of the manner in which this Estate was divided; and if he will fully investigate its division.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Clonmel Estate.
22.
The competing claims of all applicants for land on this 82 acres estate were fully considered by the Land Commissioners before allotment took place. Apart from the allocation of a small plot to Waterford County Council, the lands were utilised to enlarge eight local small holdings. The limited acreage available for disposal, however, was not sufficient to bring these holdings up to current standard.
The names of the successful applicants and the acreage allotted to each of them are contained in a tabular statement which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report. In giving this type of information, however, I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a request for similar particulars in another case on 31st ultimo (Volume 207, Column 303).
I do not propose to accept the suggestion contained in the final part of the question. The selection of allottees of land is an excepted matter reserved exclusively to the Land Commissioners. While I do not accept that the position in the present case is as stated by the Deputy, I am only too well aware that, in the nature of land settlement, it is virtually impossible to formulate a scheme of division for any particular estate which will win all-round acceptance. I referred to this very point when I introduced the Lands Estimate on 29th May last, I said then:
The funds provided in this Estimate will be used, in the main, to advance the land settlement programme. Land settlement is by no means an easy task: the extent to which the human element is involved in the work ensures that. Perhaps one of its most difficult aspects is the realisation that, with the demand for land far exceeding the supply, it is virtually impossible to formulate a scheme of division for any particular estate which will satisfy everybody; there will invariably be disappointment for some aspirants. I do not know what the formula for success is but I do know that the formula for failure is to try to please everybody. It is only too true to say that few sectors of the public service give rise to such high feelings as land settlement.
Following is the tabular statement referred to:—
|
Name |
Area Allotted |
||
|
a. |
r. |
p. |
|
|
Patrick Flynn |
17 |
0 |
23 |
|
Mrs. Nora Phelan |
12 |
1 |
10 |
|
John Molloy |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
Michael Shanahan |
8 |
3 |
16 |
|
David Bradshaw |
11 |
1 |
9 |
|
Philip Fahey |
8 |
0 |
34 |
|
Philip Kennedy |
8 |
3 |
26 |
|
Mrs. Catherine Cooney |
6 |
2 |
7 |
|
Waterford County Council |
1 |
2 |
37 |
|
Total |
81 |
2 |
2 |