Vol. 298 No. 6
asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps, if any, that have been taken by the Land Commission to acquire the 248-acre Baggot estate, Curraun, Cross and Aghaboe, County Laois, 160 acres of which were advertised for public sale in the newspapers of 5th March, 1977.
12.
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the Baggot estate at Aghaboe, Ballacolla, County Laois, is for sale; and if the Land Commission will acquire the estate for division among the smallholders in the area.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of this property but are having inquiries made in the matter.
A deputation representing the farmers in the area called on a senior official of the Department and gave a full list of the names and addresses of the farmers concerned. The list set out details of marital status, occupation and details of valuations, acreage and stock and I am sure this was helpful to the Department. Is the Minister aware that the estate in question is a sizeable one and that there is a large number of small farmers in the area? This is an ideal opportunity for the Land Commission to purchase the estate for division.
I have that information.
Is the Minister aware that the Land Commission headquarters have a report from their local office for some months which indicates the desirability of instituting proceedings for the acquisition of the estate? Can he explain the slowness of the Land Commission to acquire the estate in view of the fact that a sale is pending on 14th April and that normally the Land Commission do not want to serve last minute notices?
I understand that they have had some information about this for a few months but they are still making inquiries.
In view of the fact that an auction is contemplated within the next ten days, as a considerable amount of details has been furnished, as this is an important estate, and, in the interests of everybody concerned, would the Minister not consider that sufficient notice should be given and a section 45 notice served?
I would prefer a section 40 notice.
If the Land Commission have already shown an interest there can be no auction.
Is the Minister aware that if the Land Commission serve a section 45 notice on the owners there is nothing to stop the auction from going ahead?
I appreciate that.
The sale cannot be sanctioned; there is a freeze. Would the Minister arrange to have a section 40 notice served?
The Deputy knows the Land Commission are a law unto themselves.
Will the Minister recommend it?
I am prepared to have it recommended.
