asked the Minister for Lands when it is proposed to divide the Tobin estate, Derryvode, Williamstown, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
26.
(Cavan): It is expected that allotment of the property referred to will take place early next year.
27.
asked the Minister for Lands when the Land Commission will be in a position to divide the Agnes Murphy estate, Castlebridge, County Wexford.
(Cavan): Possession of the property referred to passed to the Land Commission on 10th March last. It is as yet too early to say when the lands will be divided.
28.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission are yet in a position to divide the Wilson estate, Killurin, County Wexford.
(Cavan): I am informed that some 160 acres, out of a composite area of 580 acres, comprising the Wilson estate and other properties in the hands of the Land Commission in the same locality, were allocated within the past fortnight. It is proposed to allot a further seven acres as a sports field at an early date. The Land Commission are not in a position just now to say when the balance of the lands will be divided.
Is the Minister aware that this property has been in the hands of the Land Commission for some six years? Surely he will agree it is about time they got down to the job of dividing it?
(Cavan): I am indeed aware that it has been in the possession of the Land Commission for approximately the time mentioned by the Deputy. What I would call the straightforward part of the transaction has been dealt with by the allocation of the 160 acres I mentioned. The remaining 582 acres involve re-arrangements and so on which are time consuming and need the agreement of the various people involved.
Do the Land Commission propose to provide farmsteads on this estate?
(Cavan): I understand that is under consideration.
29.
asked the Minister for Lands when the Land Commission propose to divide the Webster estate, Garrigbritt Lower, Ferns, County Wexford.
(Cavan): As indicated in my reply to a Question (No. 50) on 7th November, 1974, it had been hoped to include this 393 acre property in the current year's allotment programme. In the event, this did not prove feasible owing to the necessity for further inquiries in connection with the formulation of allotment proposals. It is now expected that a substantial part, if not all, of the lands will be allotted next spring.
30.
asked the Minister for Lands when it is proposed to allot the Hughes estate, Dalgin, Milltown, Tuam, County Galway.
(Cavan): Composite re-sale proposals are at present being formulated for the property referred to and for other holdings on hands of the Land Commission in the same locality. It is hoped to include the aggregate area of some 400 acres in next year's allocation programme.
31.
asked the Minister for Lands when a Land Commission estate (details supplied) in County Kerry will be finally divided.
(Cavan): I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 25th April, 1974. At that time some 33 acres were allocated to two local smallholders but the balance of the holding, 25 acres, was refused by the third approved allottee. Since then proposals have been formulated to effect an element of rearrangement and re-structuring, utilising the area refused. These proposals are being examined and it is hoped to implement them by the end of this year.
32.
asked the Minister for Lands the present position regarding the acquisition by the Land Commission of the Richards estate, Golsboro, Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
(Cavan): Proceedings for the acquisition of the property referred to have been completed. Possession of the lands passed to the Land Commission on 12th December, 1974.
33.
asked the Minister for Lands when the Mallon estate at Hortland, Donadea, County Kildare will be divided.
(Cavan): Possession of the property referred to has not yet passed to the Land Commission. It is not possible therefore at this stage to indicate when the lands will be divided.
This has been going on for the last four or five years and it was generally thought that the Land Commission had acquired the land. What is the delay?
(Cavan): The position is that price, and so on, has been fixed but it has not been possible to get possession because some buildings on the estate are occupied. That matter is being dealt with at the moment.
Can the Land Commission not get temporary vacant possession of the buildings as they usually do?
(Cavan): As the Deputy will know, taking possession of an estate subject to some sort of a gentleman's agreement regarding occupation of buildings can create more problems than it solves.
34.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will acquire the Anderson estate at Colgagh, County Sligo and divide it amongst the small farmers in that area who asked to have it acquired three years ago.
(Cavan): The Land Commission carried out an inspection of the property referred to in 1969 following which they decided not to institute proceedings for acquisition. I understand that the Land Commission are now having up-to-date inquiries made in the matter.