asked the Minister for Lands what steps, if any, he proposes to take in having the land acquired by the Land Commission for the past number of years in County Mayo divided and given to the most needy applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Lands.
80.
The allocation of land acquired by the Land Commission in County Mayo—as elsewhere—is proceeding as speedily as possible. During the last five financial years an aggregate area of some 22,000 acres was distributed in the county in 1,150 allotments.
The Deputy will appreciate that, in some instances, the disposal of particular properties must await the acquisition of additional land by the Land Commission in the interest of formulating the most comprehensive scheme of division for the locality.
I understand that land allotment in County Mayo this year is expected to reach—and perhaps exceed—the high average allocation for the recent past.
A certain amount of land has been acquired in County Mayo in the past six or seven years which has been let by the Land Commission. I should be very grateful if the Minister could see his way to have the lands allocated to the people.
The area provisionally allocated for 1968-69 will be just over 4,500 acres. I think the Deputy will appreciate that delay in certain cases is inevitable until a rational scheme for a particular area can be prepared.