Vol. 334 No. 8
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the very large number of people who applied to the Land Commission for bog and turbary plots throughout the entire country and that the Land Commission have quite a large area of bog in their possession, but seem to be very reluctant to either set it on an annual basis or to give it directly to applicants; and if he will have the matter investigated with a view to the Land Commission dividing the bog as soon as possible.
410.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the Land Commission have bog at Inverin, County Galway and that they seem to be very reluctant to give sites to people who are anxiously trying to get a supply of fuel for the winter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
I do not accept the Deputy's implication that the Land Commission are reluctant to make bog plots available. The position is that any developed turbary which they have in their possession is usually let on a seasonal basis to meet local demand. During the year 1981 some 4,900 such lettings were made. In addition, the Land Commission are prepared to consider applications from individuals or groups for long-term leases of bog for commercial or domestic production.
The Land Commission recently completed the development of 32 hectares of bog at Inverin and plots are now available for seasonal letting at reasonable rents.
