asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will state if Michael A. O'Sullivan, of Keelnabrack, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, who is a road labourer, and in occupation of three-quarters of an acre of land, made application to the Land Commission for part of the untenanted lands on the Winn estate, Keelnabrack, Glenbeigh; and, if so, whether his application was favourably received; and whether he is aware that this man held part of these lands on the 11 months' system for 40 years, and that refusal on the part of the Land Commission would entail considerable hardship on him and his family, who have now no lands whereon to graze their cows.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Glenbeigh Labourers' Claims to Untenanted Land.
The Land Commission considered the application of Michael O'Sullivan for an allotment of portion of the lands comprising 35a. 3r. 30p. acquired by them on the estate of Winn, and could not see their way to allot a parcel to him.
Does he come within the scope of Section 31 (a) of the 1923 Act?
The Land Commission consider that he was a most undesirable applicant, considering the fact that he has not paid rent for five years and does not own any stock, not even a hen.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether Patrick P. Sullivan, a small farmer, in occupation of only seven acres of arable land in Keelnabrack, Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, made an application in June, 1928, for that part of the untenanted lands of Keelnabrack (Winn estate), Glenbeigh, from which his mother and grandfather had been dispossessed about 50 years before; and whether he is included in the list of persons to whom the Land Commission may make advances to purchase untenanted lands; and whether he is aware that in 1920 or thereabouts, the landlord let this portion of those lands to the mother of Pat Sullivan on the eleven months' system, and if she was in occupation of this portion of land till her death, over two years ago, when she was succeeded by her son Pat, who held the lands till January of this year, when he was dispossessed by the Land Commission, without any notice whatsoever; and why this application of Patrick P. Sullivan was not favourably entertained; and further, whether he is aware that two shopkeepers, one of whom holds a Post Office, already in the occupation of lands in Glenbeigh, had been allotted portions of these untenanted lands, to the exclusion of this man and others in the vicinity who held uneconomic holdings.
The Land Commission considered the application of Patrick Sullivan for an allotment of portion of the lands comprising 35a. 3r. 30p. acquired by them on the estate of Winn, and in the exercise of their discretion decided not to allot a parcel to him.
The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered half the question. Will he say what claim shopkeepers have to any portion of the land, and whether they come within the scope of Section 31 of the Act of 1923?
They do.
Mr. O'Reilly
In what way?
The holding is very small. It was allotted to four individuals, one of whom has the local Post Office and has a small farm and comes within the provisions of the Act. Another is a small shopkeeper whose income is not more than £2 a week.
Mr. O'Reilly
They are probably Cumann na nGaedheal supporters and not Republicans.
We do not take these matters into consideration.