asked the Minister for Lands the present position regarding the estate of R.A. Horan, Dromod, Carrowbehy, Castlerea, County Roscommon.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Estates.
32.
The Land Commission have no dealings in respect of this property.
33.
asked the Minister for Lands when the Sweeney estate, Cloonshore, Elphin, County Roscommon, will be allocated.
It is not possible just now to forecast when allotment of this 46-acre property will be effected but I understand that the aim is to include it in next year's allocation programme.
Can the Minister state when the Land Commission acquired these lands?
In 1968.
That is quite a while ago.
They are nearly as bad as the Office of Public Works.
34.
asked the Minister for Lands the present position regarding the Martin Higgins estate, Aghagowla, Corregreenroe, Boyle, County Roscommon.
35.
asked the Minister for Lands the present position regarding the ten acre portion of the Thomas Doyle estate, Aghagowla, Corregreenroe, Boyle, County Roscommon.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
The Land Commission carried out detailed inspections of both these properties but decided, in each case, not to proceed further in the matter.
Can the Minister state why the Land Commission did not take action in this regard? The area is very congested and I thought it was one of the functions of the Land Commission to act in such a matter.
The situation was that the property had been sold before the relevant section 40 notice was served. Therefore, the purchaser was entitled to go ahead. That was the situation in regard to both properties mentioned in the questions.
Can the Minister state why the Land Commission did not issue a compulsory order to have the lands acquired in order to relieve the congestion in the area instead of allowing a buyer, who had 500 or 600 acres of land elsewhere, to come in?
I am aware of the situation but I can only repeat that in regard to both properties a section 40 notice had not been served before both lands were sold.