asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that the taking over by the Land Commission of lands on the estates of Nicholson, Balrath, Co. Meath, and Everard, Ballyhist, Kells, Co. Meath, has resulted in the disemployment of twenty-nine men employed on the lands; whether his Department can take any steps to remedy this addition to the number of the unemployed, and whether land will be allotted at an early date to the men so disemployed.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ACQUISITION OF MEATH ESTATES.
A proposal by the Land Commission to purchase the lands referred to on the Nicholson Estate has been accepted by the owner, but the Commissioners have not yet got possession of the lands.
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.
Will the Minister state whether full consideration will be given to the men who are disemployed, as stated in the question, some of them having from 30 down to 10 years' service on the estate which has been acquired by the Land Commission, or is it the policy of the Minister for Lands and Agriculture to throw these men on the unemployment market without any prospect of relief from the distress which is before them?
Mr. HOGAN
I have already answered that question. The Land Commission always consider the case of labourers who have lost employment as a result of the purchase of an estate.
I have asked the Minister, and I would like a reply either negatively or affirmatively. Will he give first preference or not to these men in a matter of this kind?
Is the Minister aware that this is only one of a number of exceptional cases in the middle of Ireland, and will he undertake to recommend to the Land Commission that cases of this kind should be dealt with in preference to other cases, where the unemployment of men is not concerned?
Mr. HOGAN
In practically every case the acquisition or purchase of an estate has resulted in the unemployment of a certain number of men. This is not an exceptional case. In some cases more men are unemployed as the result of acquisition than in other cases. The Land Commission always deals with the labourers unemployed by the acquisition of an estate. I have not yet received any complaints where the Land Commission failed to deal with the case of genuine employees who were put out by the acquisition of an estate.
Is the Minister prepared to instruct the Land Commission to give first preference to men of this type who are losing their employment?
Mr. HOGAN
I do not know the meaning of first preference.
Is the Minister aware that Section 31 of the Land Act of 1923 specifies that any persons who lose their employment in such circumstances can enforce their rights?
Mr. HOGAN
I am not aware of that.