asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that as a result of the acquisition by the Land Commission under the Land Act, 1923, of the Welstead Estate at Ballywalter, Shanballymore, Co. Cork, of seven hundred acres, teen labourers have been thrown out of employment; whether, in view of this, he would consider the letting of the fifty acres of last year's tillage land on the estate to those labourers pending the division of the lands, and whether he can now give any indication as to what extent in the future such labourers of the district will be provided with land.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WELSTEAD ESTATE, CO. CORK.
The Land Commission have made a proposal to purchase some 769 acres of untenanted land on the Welstead Estate, which the owner has accepted. The Commissioners are not, however, in a position to take over possession of the lands pending the showing of title thereto by the owner.
In the distribution of lands acquired by the Land Commission, due regard is had to labourers living on or in the vicinity of the lands whom the Land Commission consider competent to work lands.
Arising out of this answer, is the Minister aware that 13 labourers, born and reared on that property, were dismissed on the 17th January, and if the Land Commission have acquired the land, could not the men get something to do from the Commission, such as acting as caretakers? Fifty acres of the land have been let since for potato setting and root crops. Could not this 50 acres be let to the labourers, who have no other way of getting support?
I think if the Deputy supplied the Land Commission with a statement of the facts, that it might have a very great effect.