asked the Minister for Lands if he will state in respect of all lands acquired and allotted by the Land Commission (a) whether the game rights are retained in all cases by the Commission, (b) if so, in what journal the rights are advertised for leasing, (c) whether the journal is sent to all the landowners concerned and (d) if arrangements will now be made to transfer such game rights to the landowners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Game Rights.
59.
Mr. Dunne
In the great majority of tenanted estates dealt with under the Land Purchase Acts, the sporting rights are vested in the tenant purchasers. As regards untenanted lands acquired and allotted by the Land Commission, general policy is to vest the sporting rights in the allottees, except in the case of large compact areas of mountain or bog and, occasionally, lands on which the sporting rights were subject of leases existing or made at the time of acquisition.
A booklet containing particulars of shooting rights held by my Department and which are available for leasing or letting, is published each year. It is the practice to advertise this booklet in the national daily newspapers and to issue it free on request.
There is provision in section 18 of the Land Act, 1965, whereby sporting rights, which have been reserved to a person other than the landowner and which have not been exercised for a period of 12 years, revert to the landowner.