asked the Minister for Lands if the former employees on the Oak Park Estate at Carlow will be entitled to an allotment of land when the balance of the property will be divided next year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Carlow Estate.
42.
As the former agricultural workers on this estate have not been displaced from employment and have, in fact, been provided with alternative employment by An Foras Talúntais on the part of the estate allocated to that body, the Land Commission do not propose to make allotments to them.
I take it that these ex-employees will not get an allotment of land when the division takes place. Is the Minister aware that these employees, who are now working for the Agricultural Institute, find themselves worse off than when they were working for the estate? They had certain allowances at that time which have now ceased, such as potato plots, which they had from their former employer.
I have no information about the conditions of the workers under An Foras Talúntais, and it does not arise on this question. In any case, the sole purpose of giving lands to exemployees of long-standing on an estate is to compensate them for loss of employment. In this particular instance, that consideration does not arise because the people who were employed on the estate are now employed by the Agricultural Institute on part of the lands on which they formerly worked.
Is the Minister aware that the position in regard to their employment has worsened? Surely they are entitled to some consideration?
It does not arise out of this question.
Would the Minister state if it is intended to bring migrants in to take over these lands instead of giving it to the people who have given service over the years to their employer?
Sin ceist eile.
Will the Minister say whether or not migrants are to be brought into this estate?