asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether a division scheme has so far been prepared in connection with the estate of Mr. J. C. Darby, Leap, Offaly, and if he will state when same will be put into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Offaly Estates.
A scheme for the division of the lands in the above estate has not yet been completed.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary answer the last part of the question?
Until the scheme is completed I could not give the information.
Will it be this year, next year, or never?
Sometime in the future, I hope.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether the Commissioners have so far decided to acquire the lands of Mr. G. Grange, Ballymacrossan, Cloney-gowan, Portarlington, Offaly, and the lands of Miss M. C. Jennings, Bloomville, Geashill, Offaly; whether division schemes have yet been prepared in both cases; and, if so, when same are likely to be put into operation.
The lands of Mr. George Grange, comprising some 600 acres, situate in the townlands of Sranure and Ballymacrossan, and of Miss C. L. Jennings, comprising 176 acres of Sranure and Gorteenara, have been inspected and the question of acquisition is under consideration.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he can state the reason for the delay on the part of the Land Commission in dealing with the estate of Richard Warburton, Garryhinch, Offaly; if a division scheme has so far been prepared by the Commissioners; and, if so, when same is likely to be put into operation.
The Land Commission made a proposal to purchase some 830 acres on the Warburton estate, comprising 378 acres of land suitable for division and 452 acres of woodlands. The offer was not accepted, and the Land Commission instituted compulsory proceedings under Section 24 of the Land Act, 1923, for the acquisition of the 378 acres of the arable land. The owner lodged an objection to the acquisition of part of these lands and required the Land Commission in the event of his objection being overruled to purchase the entire demesne, including the woodlands thereon. The objection was heard in court and allowed. Subsequently, proceedings were instituted for the acquisition of the entire lands and these were gazetted on the 10th July, 1928, to which no objection has been lodged. The price offered by the Land Commission for the purchase of the lands in these later proceedings has not been accepted and, pending its determination, the Land Commission are not in a position to issue instructions for the preparation of a resale scheme.