asked the Minister for Lands the number of farms acquired from elderly persons on the life annuity system; and the number of loans made available to farmers who handed over their own holdings for the relief of congestion in order to purchase larger ones.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Farms.
59.
As yet no lands have actually passed into the possession of the Land Commission under the life annuity scheme but agreement on price, preliminary to exercising an option to take an annuity in lieu of the whole or part of the cash purchase money, has been reached with eight eligible landowners. Of these, one has recently opted for a life annuity and the case is now in the final stages; three are at present in course of exercising the option and four other are considering the Land Commission's proposals. In 61 other cases negotiations on price are in progress.
Under the self-migration scheme, loans have been made to two applicants whose lands have been taken over by the Land Commission as part of the arrangements, two further cases are nearing completion. In still two other cases, the approved applicants' proposals in relation to their selection of new holdings are awaited; while price negotiations — an essential prerequisite to the making of an advance —are currently in progress with 9 further landowners who hope to avail themselves of the scheme.
Is the Minister aware that both schemes announced to the Irish people with the aid of a press, if not a television conference, have flopped? Is it not true that after two years we find eight applicants being dealt with in the case of life annuities and only two or three in the case of availability of loans for congests? In view of the fact that such schemes will make no contribution towards the relief of congestion in the West, will the Minister say if he has any further plans to bring about some solution to this problem?
The Deputy is utterly wrong in both assertions. While provision for bringing these schemes into effect was made in the Land Act, 1965, they came into operation early this year only. Regulations under the Act came into effect at the end of January only. The inspectors were briefed and it was March of this year before the work started. In fact 276 applications have been received for the life annuity scheme. If the Deputy had listened to the reply, he would know that I mentioned 61 other cases which are still being negotiated. The self-migration scheme, for the short time it has been available, is a scheme that takes time. Some 14 or 15 cases are already pending under it. If the Deputy will further keep in mind that every one of these cases that is successful will have the effect of alleviating three to five of the local congests, he will get some idea of the effect of this scheme and its success.
Is it not true to say that not one single transaction has been approved under either heading since the scheme was announced?
I advise the Deputy to re-read the reply he has received.
Is it not true that not one single scheme has been approved under either heading?
That is not true.
Are we to assume from the Minister's reply that it will take 12 months to deal with one or two applications?
It will take 12 months to deal with a few hundred.
None has been dealt with yet.
I have already said that is not true.
None has been dealt with.
Will the Deputy please read the reply he has received, if he is capable of reading?
The Minister must be thinking of something else.