asked the Minister for Lands if he has now considered the annuities chargeable on the Taylor and Finn Estates at Ballymacoda, County Cork; if, in view of the fact that the Land Commission had to purchase four estates in the district to make a worthwhile improvement in the uneconomic holdings in the area, he is now prepared to declare Ballymacoda a congested area for the purposes of the Act; or if he intends to take any other action to reduce the high rents chargeable on these estates recently divided amongst the smallholders in the district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - East Cork Estates.
22.
The determination of resale prices is a function exclusively reserved to the Commissioners. The lands available for division in this particular district consisted of 260 acres, of which an area of 125 acres comprising two estates was purchased for cash under Section 27, Land Act, 1950, and the balance was secured by way of exchange. The approved allottees included eight persons who surrendered parts of their existing holdings and one who surrendered his entire holding in exchange-and twelve who were offered additions to their existing holdings. All but two of the approved allottees accepted the parcels offered to them. In fixing the resale prices the Land Commission had to have regard to the high price paid for the lands purchased for cash.
As the lands involved are situated in a non-congested area the provisions of section 7, Land Act, 1965, apply to the resale prices of the parcels offered by way of additions and the allottees are not eligible for revision of the annuities. I may say that the average rateable valuation of the holdings owned by the twelve persons who were offered additions is about £21-a figure which indicates that the holdings are substantially better than the average holding in the scheduled congested areas.
As to declaring Ballymacoda a congested area, I have pointed out previously in reply to similar questions, and in the course of the debates on the Land Act, 1965, that I consider priority should be afforded to the traditional congested areas where congestion has for so long been so pronounced and that it would, as yet, be premature to declare additional areas under Section 4 of the Act.
The Minister has given me extra work.
No doubt, but the Deputy has broad shoulders to bear the extra work.