asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will state if it is the intention of the Land Commission to take over the farm owned by Mr. Hoban (at present in U.S.A.), of Knocklolaura West, Tuam (O'Kelly's Estate), Co. Galway, for division amongst the congested tenants in that estate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Co. Galway Lands.
There are no proceedings pending in the Land Commission for the acquisition under the Land Act of 1923 of the lands of Knockalaura West, the property of Mr. Patrick Hoban, which are subject to a land purchase annuity, and it is not the present intention of the Land Commission to acquire them.
asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he will state if it is the intention of the Land Commission to acquire the lands owned by Patrick Garvey (which are about to be sold by him) at Kilcocley, Boalf Estate, Co. Galway, for division amongst the small land owners on this estate.
The Land Commission have had under consideration the question of the acquisition of the lands referred to, which are subject to a land purchase annuity, and have decided not to acquire them.
I would like to point out to the Parliamentary Secretary that Mr. Hogan bought these lands about three years ago and has been in America ever since. There are ten or twelve tenants there with a valuation of under £8 and they are badly in need of land. Is it the policy of the Land Commission to allow 150 acres to be set yearly in grazing while people are starving for it?
It is rather extraordinary if, as the Deputy represents, people are starving for land in that area that no demand has been made on the Land Commission to acquire these lands. They have not been offered by the owner to the Land Commission. I presume that if the Land Commission took steps to acquire this holding the owner would demand an alternative holding, as these lands are subject to an annuity. We are not in a position to offer an alternative holding. It does not appear from the information at my disposal that there is any great need for the acquisition of land in that area at the moment.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary prepared to look into the question of these small land holders who pay annuities of something like £2 a year? Is the Land Commission prepared to slide over and forget about these people so that a man can be away from his farm for such a long time? Are you not looking after the congested tenants?