asked the Minister for Agriculture the criteria used by the Land Commission in allocating turbary plots and if he will state in respect of (a) the country and (b) County Galway (i) the acreage of turbary held by the Land Commission; (ii) the total number of tenants who have turbary plots from the Land Commission and (iii) the number of turbary plots let by the Land Commission during 1983.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turbary Plots Allocation.
16.
The primary aim of the Land Commission in acquiring bog was the provision of turbary for smallholders in need of household supplies. When their demands are satisfied, any balance is allocated to cottiers and other local applicants. If significant areas of bog are not otherwise required, they are offered for sale to Bord an Móna, cooperatives or other concerns engaged in the harvesting of turf.
The total area of turbary held by the Land Commission is 25, 836 acres of which 1,445 acres are in County Galway.
Land Commission records are not kept in such a form as to make information on the total number of tenants readily available and the time and labour required to ascertain it would not be warranted.
Details of 1983 lettings are not yet available.
Would the Minister agree that there are many people who wish to obtain turbary plots from the Land Commission and that a large number of applications are before the Land Commission for a long time? These people seem not to be making any progress or getting any recognition. Could the Minister tell us when those who have applied over a period of time, and especially between 1982 and 1983, will be allocated turbary plots?
As the Deputy has so rightly pointed out, it would appear that in the last number of years the Land Commission have more or less eased out of this operation. This is for a variety of reasons. Even five or six years ago there was no great demand for turbary rights, but because of the fuel situation the demand for these has increased again. I will ask the area Land Commission officers around the country to take stock of what is happening with a view to following up the Deputy's suggestion.
The Land Commission are not now buying any turbary rights. I had a question down last week about buying 60 acres in County Kerry.
A question, please, Deputy.
I request the Minister to advise the Land Commission that it is very important that they buy turbary rights for allotment to the smallholders, as there is great demand for these plots.
We must take note of the expenditure involved in doing this. Every case must be looked at. More generally, there are many bogs around the country which the Land Commission should have on hand and should be dividing, taking note of drainage and so forth.
Did the Land Commission let what was available last year in turbary plots?
I have not that figure, but I shall have the information sent to the Deputy.