asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission have acquired the Walker Estate, Moynalty, Kells, County Meath; and, if not, what is the present position.
99.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Estates.
98.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Reilly estate, Tankardstown, Navan, County Meath, has been taken over by the Land Commission; and, if not, what is the present position.
With your permission a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.
Proceedings are in progress for compulsory acquisition of both of these properties, containing 212 acres and 52 acres respectively. In the case of the Walker estate an objection lodged on behalf of the owner has been disallowed and the question of price is at present being arranged. The appropriate statutory notices directed towards the acquisition of the Reilly estate have only recently been published and will be served on the owner at an early date.
I am rather surprised at the Minister's reply because my information from both owners is that they had no objection to acquisition by the Department. The Reilly estate was supposed to have been purchased by the Department, but some snag arose towards the end of the negotiation. The owners of that estate and the Walker estate were satisfied that a fair price was being offered.
In the case of the Walker estate, there were objections and the case came before the Commissioners on six occasions. Finally, early in 1967, the objection was disallowed.
Early in 1967, the Commission had finally decided to purchase the estate and the landowner indicated she was satisfied with the price. She had to be satisfied, but surely it is unreasonable to say that negotiations are still proceeding at the end of 1968.
My information is that the negotiations are held up——
They could not be held up because the decision was given on it.
The objection was disallowed and the negotiations were then in relation to price. My information is that the negotiations have not yet been finalised.
What has held up the Reilly estate?
A notice of inspection was served on the Reilly estate in July of this year and there was a problem in relation to one part of it which, I believe, was sold subject to the Land Commission's consent. A second lot of it was offered to the Land Commission but compulsory proceedings are now instituted in relation to the whole lot.
Could the Land Commission not proceed since they had given permission for purchase of the first part? Why should they hold up the whole estate?
I did not say they gave permission. I said it was subject to the consent of the Land Commission.
If they are now not giving permission, surely they could go ahead with the purchase of the whole estate, and then no question of unreasonable delay arises at all?