asked the Minister for Lands the present position regarding the proposal to acquire the McNeill estate, Moycullen, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Estate.
23.
(Cavan): The Land Commission have reached agreement on price for the voluntary purchase of the property referred to. It is expected that possession will be obtained shortly.
I am grateful to the Minister for that information, but can he tell us why it has taken from July last until the putting down of this question for a decision to be made whether the Land Commission would purchase this property, especially since it was indicated to officials of the Department that the individual who purchased the land was prepared to sell it to the Land Commission at the same price at which he purchased it? It was as far back as July last that I referred first to this matter.
The Deputy is imparting information to the House.
(Cavan): My information is that the price was fixed only in October, 1974, and that there were then questions of title and so on to be dealt with. I understand also that possession was obtained yesterday, but I have been unable to confirm this.
This is an indication of the power of parliamentary questions.
(Cavan): If parliamentary questions could result in the Land Commission making decisions as quickly as that suggested by the Deputy, there would be no problems.
There was no problem because the man was prepared as far back as July last to sell the property to the Land Commission.