asked the Minister for Lands the amount of land in the possession of the Land Commission in County Wexford; and the amount of land divided in the last six months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. - County Wexford Lands.
57.
(Cavan): The total area at present in possession of the Land Commission in County Wexford is 3,350 acres, approximately. In the last six months, a period which excluded the peak allotment time, the area divided in the county was about 45 acres. In the period from 1st April, 1973, to date, some 227 acres were total allotment figure for the full year allocated and it is expected that the ending 31st March, 1974, will be in the region of 800 acres.
Is there any way in which the Minister could speed up the division of land? Many people are under the impression that they hold on to it to get money out of it by letting it for conacre. Does the Minister agree that the average delay is three years before any farm is divided and is there any way that he can get around that?
(Cavan): I agree that in many cases the delay is too great. The matter is under consideration in my Department at the moment with a view to expediting the allocation of land. I thoroughly agree that it is desirable that land, once acquired should be allocated with the minimum delay.