asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries if he will state whether the Land Commission have yet acquired the lands held by Dr. Costello, Tuam, and Mr. Thomas O'Brien, of Clough, Williamstown, on the Isabella Hawe Estate, Co. Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Isabella Hawe Estate (Co. Galway).
The Land Commission have not acquired the holdings in the townland of Briersfort, containing 94a. 2r. 20p. and 100a. 2r. 18p., in the occupation of Thomas O'Brien and Dr. T.B. Costello, respectively, on the estate of Isabella Hawe.
The question of the acquisition of these holdings will be considered by the Land Commission at the appropriate stage of the sale proceedings in the matter.
I would like to point out to the Parliamentary Secretary that I asked a question about this matter two years ago, and also a year ago, and that the replies received were the same. I wonder what is meant by "receiving consideration"?
The lands are subject to Land Commission annuity and because the Land Commission wants to acquire them compulsorily they must naturally provide alternative accommodation. The difficulty is to get a suitable accommodation holding.
Does that take ten to fifteen years?
Sometimes it may take two, three, or five years to do so.