asked the Minister for Lands if, in respect of County Meath and County Kildare, for the period since 1st January, 1970, he will give details of all farms (a) which were sold to non-nationals and (b) in respect of which applications for such sale were received by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Sales to Non-Nationals.
17.
In the period since 1st January, 1970 to date, consent was granted to non-qualified persons under section 45 (2) (a) of the Land Act, 1965, for the purchase of two farms in County Meath, comprising 243 acres and 100 acres respectively, and two farms in County Kildare comprising 124 acres and 22 acres respectively. In addition, applications for the purchase by non-qualified persons of four small properties, not exceeding eight acres each, in County Meath and of a six-acre property in County Kildare were granted by the Land Commission.
In the same period three applications—two in County Meath and one in County Kildare—for the consent of the Land Commission to the purchase by non-qualified persons of land were refused. There are no applications at present pending for decision.
Can I take it the Minister does not want to give me the details? What I asked the Minister for was particulars of the farms concerned.
I have the information.
Will the Minister include it in the report?
Certainly. For the Deputy or include it in the Official Report?
Whichever the Minister likes.
I do not think there is anything confidential about it.
I do not think so. What I wanted to find out—I will not ask the Minister to read it because it appears to be a bit long—is whether the Minister would agree that the section under which non-nationals are purchasing land and which was expressly put in to prevent them from doing this is being operated too loosely? Is he aware that some people claim they intend to use farms for certain purposes in order to get possession of them, and then do not carry out what they say is their intention; yet they get possession of the land. Is there any point in passing an Act in this House and putting a section in it expressly to prevent this if the provision is going to be allowed to be contravened?
Three of the four farms involved were for bloodstock stud purposes.
They said?
That is right.
One of them, I know myself, is not going to be used for such a purpose. This was only a trick. That is the reason why I would like to have it pinpointed.
I am interested——
Question No. 18.