asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that there are a number of agricultural tenant farmers who do not come under the provisions of the Land Act, 1923, and who are still paying rents to landlords; if it is the intention of the Executive Council to introduce legislation by which future tenants, long lease holders, and tenants holding land under fee farm grants, will come under the provisions of the Land Act, 1923, and so purchase their holdings.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POSITION OF TENANT FARMERS UNDER LAND ACT.
Future tenants, as such, are not excluded from the Land Act, 1923, and with regard to fee farm grantees or long leaseholders:—
An occupier of land situate in non-congested districts' counties and held by him under a fee farm grant, or lease for lives renewable for ever for lives or years, or a lease of which more than 60 years are unexpired, can apply to the Land Commission under Section 38 of the Act of 1923 for an advance to enable him to redeem the rent reserved by the grant or lease and the manner in which applications is to be made is prescribed by the rules of the Land Commission of 5th February, 1924.
With regard to similar lands situate in a congested districts' county, they are untenanted lands as defined by the Act in the owner's occupation, and as such will vest in the Land Commission on the "appointed day," and may be resold to the owner under the Act.
Is the Minister aware that some of these tenants are in a very bad position at the present moment, because they never had an opportunity of entering the Land Courts to have fair rents fixed? They are still being pressed by the landlords for these unjust rents, and I think it is about time that the Minister would see that these people are relieved from the yoke of landlordism. They were promised that on the passing of the Land Act of 1923, and were told that there would be no more landlordism in the country.
The Deputy can ask a supplementary question, but he cannot make a statement at this time.