asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that there are a large number of uneconomic, unvested and intermixed holdings in the Cobb estate in the Dublin hills south of Bohernabreena; and if he will consider having a number of the people concerned provided with new holdings in exchange, in the County Dublin holdings now available; and if he will thus make a general re-arrangement of the Cobb estate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Estate.
57.
The Land Commission have carried out a survey of the unvested holdings—some 100 in all—on this estate and are examining the possibility of effecting such rearrangement as may be practicable. The acquisition of additional land is an essential prerequisite to the work and, to this end, the question of transferring some tenants from the estate will be fully considered.
Is the Minister aware that there are at least two farms available in North County Dublin at the moment to which some of these people would be prepared to transfer and that it would enable the re-arrangement and adjustment to be made in the Cobb estate if they could be accommodated elsewhere?
I am aware that for any farms we have available there are hundreds of congests prepared to accept them. I have no doubt that some of these people would be too. I do not know for what particular migrants the two farms would be earmarked.
Is the Minister aware that the farmers in this Cobb estate above Bohernabreena have uneconomic and intermixed holdings? One man may have a field in the middle of another man's farm, to which there is no access except an inadequate lane, and that sort of thing. These people cannot farm properly until there is a general re-arrangement. The method suggested in the question is the only way that a general re-arrangement can be effected.
I entirely accept that what the Deputy says is true. That is the position where there are rundale or intermixed holdings generally speaking throughout the country. I also accept that it is necessary in this case to take five to six people out of the estate in order to do a proper job.