asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state what steps are being taken by the Land Commission to relieve the acute congestion that exists on the Lynch Estate, Partry district, County Mayo; whether he will also state if any steps are being taken to acquire some of the lands known as the Creagh Demesne, Knox Estate, Ballinrobe, County Mayo; and if he is aware that these lands are at present in possession of the Mayo Board of Health authorities, but their total acreage largely exceeds their requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lynch Estate (Mayo).
The Land Commission are not yet in a position to complete the resale of the estate of Colonel H. C. Lynch, County Mayo, which was acquired by the Congested Districts Board, and which requires the migration of some of the tenants before congestion can be relieved. Efforts have been made to induce tenants to migrate, but they refused to do so. The holdings of six tenants on the estate, have, however, been enlarged by the allotment to them of portion of the lands acquired by the Land Commission on the Knox Estate (Creagh) under the Land Act, 1923. The estate will be resold as soon as circumstances permit.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, the position is that the Land Commission resold to Colonel Knox subject to a land purchase annuity 550 acres of the Creagh Demesne, including Creagh House, the greater part of which he appears to have sold subsequently to the Mayo County Board of Health for the purpose of a sanatorium. The Land Commission are prepared to consider the purchase of any portion of these lands not required by the Board of Health, but that Board has not yet supplied a map of such lands.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the Land Commission have made any offer to the Board of Health authorities?
No. It is really a matter for the Board of Health to communicate with the Land Commission with regard to what portion they are pre-require and what portion they are prepared to sell.
The Parliamentary Secretary, I am sure, is aware of the state of congestion that exists and of how badly land is needed in that district.