asked the Minister for Lands the reason for the delay in responding to the applications for bog plots made last February by 23 applicants in the Gleneely/Rushyhill/ Meenlougher/Ballyarl townlands of County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Bog Plots.
23.
(Cavan): I am informed that the Land Commission have no bogs on hands in the vicinity of the townlands mentioned. However, the applications referred to have been noted for consideration in the event of suitable turbary becoming available.
Is the Minister telling me that there is not any bog available for allocation to the people in the area concerned?
(Cavan): That is my information from the Land Commission. The applications referred to in the question were received in Letterkenny office and have been filed for consideration in the event of suitable bogs becoming available for renting or allotment. An unusually high number of applications for bog plots had been received in February-March. There are no bogs on Land Commission lands in the vicinity of the four townlands mentioned. These are situated south of Killygordon and south-east of Stranorlar. The nearest bog on Land Commission lands is in Craughona on the estate of Lifford, 13 miles distant.
While accepting that there may not be bogs in the hands of the Land Commission, does the Minister not agree that the Land Commission have power to acquire any turbary rights on existing lands where there is bog available, and frequently do so?
(Cavan): I think the Deputy appreciates that can be a slow and tedious process and that the Land Commission do not normally acquire turbary as such.
Would the Minister agree that it is a serious matter to leave a large number of people in these townlands without the opportunity of producing their own fuel at a time when they cannot afford to buy expensive imported fuel?
(Cavan): It is estimated that the Land Commission have turbary rights available that will facilitate people seeking turbary within a reasonable distance.
Would the Minister now undertake to expedite the method by which the Land Commission slowly acquire turbary at this time of fuel emergency so as to enable people to produce their own fuel?
(Cavan): I shall ask the Land Commission to look into the matter.