asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he is aware that there are very many acres of good bog in Behighare mountain, Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, and that the householders around that district, numbering over sixty, are compelled to go to Sneem parish, a distance, in some cases, of eight miles, and, considering the hardships inflicted on these poor people by reason of the long distances they have to travel for turf, and the poverty prevailing in the district, will the Minister take the necessary steps in pursuance of the general powers of improvement vested in the Land Commission to have a road made to these bogs in Behighare mountain so as to bring turf within easy distance of these people and to give much-needed employment to this part of the Gaeltacht.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - A COUNTY KERRY BOG.
The lands of Behagane formed part of the estate of Burns Hartopp purchased by the late Congested Districts Board, and the holdings thereon, including 210 acres held in common, were on resale by the Board vested in the tenants in 1910.
The Land Commission have no information as to the requirements of the tenants regarding road accommodation to the bog on the commonage, but they are having inquiries made.
asked the Minister for Fisheries whether the Land Commission have recently decided not to acquire the lands (235 acres) of J. C. Smith, Down, Edenderry, whether the owner resides in Dublin, and whether the Smith family are also in possession of 1,303 acres of land, with a valuation of over £1,000, and if he can now state the reason why the Commissioners declined to acquire these lands for the relief of congestion.
The lands of J. C. Smith, Down, Edenderry, containing 286 statute acres were published in a Provisional List in "Iris Oifigiúil" on the 3rd December, 1926. On the 17th January, 1927, the owner lodged an objection to the Provisional List under Section 40, sub-section (3) of the Land Act, 1923, which objection was heard in the Court of the Land Commission on the 6th of April, 1927, when evidence was submitted by counsel on behalf of the objector in support of his objection. The Commissioners having themselves visited the lands and having fully considered the evidence and entire circumstances of the case gave judgment on the 13th of October allowing the objection.
The Commissioners are acquiring a large area of land in this neighbourhood which they expect will meet the wants of the local uneconomic holders of land.