Turbary Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Questions (574)

Alan Dillon

Question:

574. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can address the issue of turbary rights and the ownership of a parcel of land (details supplied) of bog/land; if the Irish Land Commission has the responsibility to deal with this area; if he has the right, as Minister, to hold the title given that the land has been paid for by the tenant purchasers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33936/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Officials in the Land Branch of my Department have informed me that following the acquisition of the Nolan Farrell estate the entire townland of Derry, Knock, Co. Mayo comprising 271a -2a- 20p was registered on Folio MY 4933 on 3 May 1906 as being in the ownership of the Congested District Board (CDB). Thereafter, a Vesting and Charging Order dated 14 of February 1911 vested an area of 185a-2r-7p in the four occupying tenants at that time which left a balance of 86a-0r-33p on the folio. This remaining 86 acre area corresponds with the area the Deputy is enquiring about. I am satisfied that the area of land at issue here is land that remains in the registered ownership of the Trustees of the CDB. The CDB was wound up in 1923 and all property vested in it was transferred to the Irish Land Commission (ILC) under section 7(2) of the Land Law (Commission) Act 1923. The ILC has since been dissolved and all property vested in it has transferred to me as Minister for Agriculture under s. 5 of the Irish Land Commission (Dissolution) Act 1992.

With regard to turbary rights over this land I am informed that when the CDB began dealings with the townland of Derry, the parcel detailed above was subject to existing turbary rights, the details of which are recorded on the Schedule of Areas. The Schedule of Areas is a document drawn up by the former CDB/ILC to record what the occupancy position was at the time the lands were acquired. This document forms part of the historical records held in my Department relating to the CDB dealings with these lands.