asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether the Land Commission have yet decided to acquire, for the relief of congestion, the farm containing 178 acres, statute measure (of which particulars were furnished to the Department on December 19th, 1927), held by the late Mr. Robert Murray, in the townland of Nurney, Co. Kildare; and, if so, whether he can state when the lands will be available for allotment amongst the numerous local congests.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ACQUISITION AND DIVISION OF KILDARE LANDS.
The Land Commission are about to make an offer for the purchase of the lands of Nurney, Co. Kildare, containing 178 acres on the estate of the late Robert Murray.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission in acquiring the lands comprising 276 acres 2 roods and 15 perches on the Taylor Estate, in the townland of Morristown-Billar, near Newbridge, Co. Kildare; whether the Judicial Commissioner has given judgment in favour of acquiring these lands: and, if so, when they will be available for allotment amongst the local congests.
The lands referred to comprise a holding of 276a. 2r. 15p. in the occupation of J.G.W. Pepper as tenant on the estate of Wm. Taylor. Co. Kildare, which is being dealt with under the Land Act, 1923. The holding was included in the lands published in a provisional list of lands which will if not excluded in consequence of a valid objection, become vested in the Land Commission on the appointed day. The owner of the estate claimed that the holding should not be included, on the grounds that it was a residential one, and the Commissioners published under Section 24 (3) of the Act a notice of intention to acquire it. The owner lodged an objection, which was heard in Court by the Commissioners and disallowed. An appeal against this decision was made by the owner to the Judicial Commissioner. His appeal was allowed. A further appeal against the decision of the Judicial Commissioner is pending before the Supreme Court.
Is the Minister aware that this man who is described as a tenant was put in for the purpose of retaining this land and preventing the Land Commission from acquiring it?
The Supreme Court has now to decide that.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will instruct the Land Commission to acquire, for division among the uneconomic landholders in the vicinity, the farm containing 100 statute acres, held by the late Miss Mary Nolan, in the townland of Ballyraggan, electoral division of Graney, Co. Kildare; whether he is aware that for many years the local congests have demanded that this farm should be acquired and divided; that the Department's Inspector reported that the farm is in every way suitable for division; and whether he will now expedite its acquisition and division.
The Land Commission have had the farm in the townland of Ballyraggan, Co. Kildare, held by the representatives of the late Mary Nolan, inspected with a view to the purchase thereof under the provisions of the Land Act, 1923. An offer was issued to the owners, which was refused, and as the lands, which are in a non-congested district, are subject to the payment of a land purchase annuity, the Commissioners have decided to take no further steps towards their acquisition.
Is the Minister aware that there is a large number of people looking for this land, and will he have further inquiries made as to the question of non-congestion, as I understand there is congestion in the district?
I have no personal knowledge of the district, but the report of the Inspector apparently is that the district is not congested.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he can state when the lands, comprising about 307 acres, on the estate of Mr. William Ashe, in the townland of Blackhall (Ballyshannon-Kilcullen area), Co. Kildare, will be available for allotment amongst the twenty-two congest-applicants, whose names have recently been furnished to the Department.
The Land Commission are about to make an offer for the purchase of the lands under the Land Act, 1923.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he can state when the Land Commission propose to acquire for the relief of congestion the lands of Ballyshannon Demesne, comprising 163 acres, and Carrighill Lower, comprising 132 acres, in the Ballyshannon-Kilcullen area, Co. Kildare, held by Mr. Thomas Price; and when the lands will be available for allotment.
The Commissioners are about to have these lands inspected.
Will the Minister have exhaustive inquiries made into the question of acquiring land in that district within a radius of five or six miles? I understand that Mr. Ashe has large tracts of untenanted land in that area and also Mr. Price, and it would be well if some of this land was acquired and distributed amongst the congests there. There are only some 300 acres on the Ashe Estate, and I think the Minister can conveniently acquire up to 1,000.
I cannot say any more than that the Commissioners are about to have the land inspected.
asked the Minister for lands and Fisheries whether the Land Commission have decided to acquire, for the relief of congestion, the lands containing about 1,024 acres on the Latouche Estate, near Kilcullen, Co. Kildare; and, if so, when the lands will be available for allotment amongst the congest-applicants (48 in number), whose names have been furnished to the Department.
The tenanted lands on this estate are about to be referred for inspection.
The Land Commission have at present under consideration the relief of congestion on this estate, and in the immediate neighbourhood.
The Minister speaks about the immediate neighbourhood. Am I to understand that they intend to acquire an estate on which there is a lot of employment given already? In fact, it is the only one that is giving any employment, and I ask the Minister to see that that particular estate is not acquired, but to acquire the Latouche Estate, not this one in the immediate neighbourhood.
I think the Deputy had better write in particulars.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he can state when the lands of Castlesize, electoral division of Bodenstown, Co. Kildare, consisting of 181 acres 1 rood and 10 perches of untenanted lands held by Mr. James Lyons, will be available for division amongst the congest-applicants (49 in number), whose names have been furnished to the Department.
Proceedings have been instituted under the provisions of the Land Act, 1923, for the acquisition of the untenanted lands of Castlesize, containing 181a. 1r. 10p. in this matter. These lands were published in a provisional list of lands which, if not excluded in consequence of a valid objection, will become vested in the Land Commission on the appointed day. The owner objects to the acquisition of the lands, and his objection is pending for hearing before the Commissioners in Court.