Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 1975

Vol. 285 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Lands.

19.

Mr. Lalor

asked the Minister for Lands if he will outline the individual holdings and the acreage held at present by the Land Commission in County Laois and the areas that will be reallocated in the spring of 1976.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan): The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

Particulars of lands—apart from turbary and insignificant residues of partly allotted properties in possession of the Land Commission for division.

County Laois

Estate	Record Number	Townland	Area (Acres)	Approximate Location
*Barton	M.12008 and A	Lissduff	59	3½ miles W. of Rathdowney
Byrne	M.9718	Gortnaclea	39	4 miles W. of Abbeyleix.
Brennan	S.28224	Tinnakill, etc.	60	5 miles W. of Mountrath.
Broomfield	U.C.2002	Iry	30	4 miles W. of Portlaoise.
Buggy	S.28342	Ballinriddery or Knightstown	53	3 miles W. of Mountmellick
Byrne	E.E.C./ U.C.6005	Camira Glebe	65	Mountmellick area.
*Carroll	M.12007	Lissduff	7	1 mile S. of Errill
*Claxton	S.23043	Dysart	170	3 miles S. of Portlaoise.
*Cole	S.23913	Ballinteskin	11	1 mile S. of Stradbally.
Cuddy	E.E.C./ U.C.6152	Marymount etc.	49	1 mile W. of Camross.
Cullen	E.E.C./ U.C.6008	Ballyshaneduff	31	½ mile S.W. of Ballybrittas
*Condell	S.23181	Timogue etc.	263	1 mile S. of Stradbally.
Conroy	E.E.C./ U.C.6214	Tinnabinch	37	2 miles E. of Clonaslee
*Cox	S.27794	Roskeen	51	6 miles N. of Mountmellick
Cunningham	S.23577 and A	Ballygeehin Lower	225	1 mile from Ballacolla on Mountrath road.
Delaney	M.11172/ A	Killeany	79	5 miles S. of Mountrath.
*Delaney	M.10536	Ballymaddock etc.	34	3 miles S. of Portlaoise.
*Delaney	M.12006/	Knockardagannon	12	1 mile S. of Errill.
Dempsey	M.10284	Coorlaghan	41	4 miles W. of Carlow.
Dempsey	M.10537	Loughlass, etc.	39	3 miles S. of Stradbally.
Dunne	E.E.C./ U.C.6092	Brockra	126	½ mile from Ballyfin.
Fennell	U.C.2066	Lea	53	1½ miles E. of Portarlington.
Graham	S.22575	Brockra	22	5 miles W. of Portlaoise.
*Devoy	M.9840	Ballyadams	5	4 miles W. of Ballylinan.
*Greene	S.26033	Court	11	3 miles N.E. of Rathdowney.
*Griffith	M.9268	Boley etc.	104	3 miles W. of Abbeyleix.
King	S.25650	Ardateggle etc.	103	6 miles W. of Carlow.
Kelly	S.26780	Coolbanagher	119	4½ miles N. of Portlaoise.
Kelly	S.28727	Ballytarsna	91	2 miles E. of Borris-in-Ossory.
Kelly	S.28726	Bushfield or Maghernaskeagh	156	4½ miles S.E. of Borris-in-Ossory
*Lalor	S.23044	Aghnahily	132	3 miles S. of Portlaoise
Malone	M.11385	Coornariskna etc.	37	5 miles W. of Carlow.
McEvoy	M.11383	Towlerton	26	3½ miles W. of Carlow.
Nolan	M.11178-81	Glasha etc.	55	2 miles S. of Rathdowney.
Parkinson	M.11366 A.B.	Tinnahinch	28	3 miles S.E. of Clonaslee.
Phelan	S.22329	Ballybrophy	156	3 miles from Borris-in-Ossory.
Phelan	S.27962	Whitefield	56	4½ miles N.E. of Mountrath.
Phelan	U.C.2026	Ballygeehin Lower	26	5 miles S.W. of Abbeyleix.
*Pratt	S.23586	Derrycarrow	74	6 miles W. of Mountrath.
Quinlan	S.24523	Springhill	42	4 miles W. of Carlow.
*Quigley	M.10526/ A.	Scothrath	54	3 miles W. of Abbeyleix.
Rautenberg	S.25361	Derrinsallagh	142	1 mile S. of Borris-in-Ossory.
Scully	S.26866	Ballintaggart	70	3 miles S.E. of Mountmellick.
Staunton	S.28181	Aharney	403	3½ miles S. of Durrow.
Tynan	S.27288	Courtwood	71	4 miles S.E. of Ballybrittas.
Whelan	M.111384	Coorlaghan	81	5 miles W. of Carlow.
Wellwood	E.E.C./ U.C.6056	Clonkeen	49	3 miles S. of Abbeyleix.
Wolfshill Farm Ltd.	S.23064	Kill	95	5 miles N. of Castlecomer.

NOTE: It is expected that all or portion of each of the properties indicated with an asterisk will be allotted in the Spring of 1976.

20.

Mr. Lalor

asked the Minister for Lands why the Land Commission have not yet divided an estate (details supplied) at Gortnaclea and Ballycuddy, County Laois; and if it will be reallocated in the coming spring.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan): Due to the pressure of more urgent cases it has not been found possible to prepare a scheme for the disposal of the holding referred to. While every effort will be made to allot the lands as quickly as possible it is unlikely that this can be done before the spring of 1977.

Mr. Lalor

This holding is so small that it must be very difficult for the Minister to say with any degree of assurance that the Land Commission have been so busy that they have not been able to reallocate it. What size is the holding?

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan): The area of the holding is 39 acres. A number of reasons are responsible for the delay in allocation. Firstly, as the Deputy knows, there has been a considerable amount of Land Commission activity in Laois-Offaly. From the 1st January to the 30th September, 1975, the Land Commission allotted approximately 1,100 acres in the area. The target for this year is 1,600 acres. The Deputy will also be aware that until recently the outdoor staff of the commission was somewhat depleted. Within the last couple of years, 21 additional inspector have been recruited. I am glad to say that one additional inspector has been allocated to Laois-Offaly and I am hopeful that this will have the effect of speeding up these matters.

Mr. Lalor

I am pleased to hear that there will be an additional inspector for Laois-Offaly because he is very much needed. That leads me to again ask the Minister, in view of the fact that the target will be so high, why has this land been held by the Land Commission for the last six or seven years? Why can an area of 39 acres not be reallocated?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a repeat of your previous supplementary question, Deputy.

Mr. Lalor

Yes, Sir, but I did not get a reply.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is not the fault of the Chair.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan): It is neither fair not accurate to say that that land has been in possession of the Land Commission for six or seven years. It came into their possession on 5th January, 1973.