asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has given a direction to Dublin Corporation to refuse to renew the tenancies of all plot-holders in the Corporation area; and, if so, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Plot Tenancies.
27.
The lands concerned were found to be infested with potato root eelworm which is a serious plant pest. In order to prevent spread of the pest to clean land it is necessary that the growing of potatoes and vegetables on the affected lands should be discontinued. A notice which would have this effect was served on the Dublin Corporation on 22nd December, 1965.
In view of the fact that these tenancies are normally renewable about October and that the plot-holders did not get any idea that renewal would be refused until towards the end of January, and also in view of the fact that quite a number of them had gone to the expense of preparing the plots for the coming season and that many of them are unemployed men, does the Minister think it vitally necessary that the growing of vegetables on the plots should be immediately discontinued or would he not consider allowing the plot-holders to continue for this year and giving them prior notice so that they will be prepared at the end of the year to vacate the plots?
I will consider that. It is a matter on which I have to be guided by experts but I will consider it.
In view of the fact that everything produced on these plots is consumed by the persons concerned, is it not extremely unlikely that there would be any danger of the spread of potato root eelworm from the plots?
It would be very bad for us to allow it even to exist there.