asked the Minister for Lands how a person (name supplied) got a division of the Kilkea Castle estate, Athy, County Kildare, and was allowed to sell it within three years to a very extensive farmer (name supplied).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Estate.
27.
A relative of the person referred to by the Deputy was allocated a parcel of 15 acres as an addition to the parent holding of 40 acres. This person subsequently sought the consent of the Land Commission to the sale of both holding and parcel.
On investigation it was found that the allottee's family circumstances had, in the meantime, deteriorated to such an extent as to render it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to continue farming. The Land Commission, therefore, consented to the sale of the holding and parcel, in one lot, to a purchaser to be approved by them.
At the time of the sale the approved purchaser had a family of seven and owned about 70 acres.
Would the Minister not agree that a practice like this defeats the very purpose for which the Land Commission was instituted?
Perhaps the Deputy would raise that matter on another occasion.
Would the Minister not be aware that this is quite common when people are given good farms of land and particularly when unsuitable applicants are brought in as migrants from the west and given good farms in the east and midlands; they sell out within two days?
This is a specific question.
I reject absolutely what Deputy Tully says. The migrants have been a great success.
Is the Minister aware that many of them sell out?
This does not arise.
I will not have migrants abused in this fashion by Deputy Tully. What he says is absolutely untrue.
Would the Ceann Comhairle allow me to ask another question?
The matter does not arise on this question, which is a specific question.
The question asked by Deputy Power was whether or not this had happened. Is the Minister not aware of the situation or does he want a list of the houses that have been shut up for years?
This has nothing whatever to do with it.
It has this to do with it.
It does not arise.
It is political patronage.
(Interruptions.)