asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the order of preference in which applications for holdings from suitable persons are dealt with by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Applications for Holdings.
In allotting land and in considering applications, the Land Commission are governed by the provisions of Section 31 of the Land Act, 1923, which empower them to make advances for the purchase of land to (a) uneconomic holders, (b) persons willing to exchange holdings, (c) evicted tenants or their representatives, (d) ex-employees on lands acquired, (e) trustees of turbary or pasturage, (f) any other person or body approved by the Land Commission. This is not an order of preference; and in practice any large scheme of resale will be found to include persons coming under each of those categories. It may be said, however, that parties such as herds and labourers who have lost their employment as a result of the taking over of lands by the Land Commission are considered to have first claim for allotments, and that genuine evicted tenants and uneconomic holders in the locality must next be provided for if the scheme is to be a success. Then would come suitable landless men in the district, and if necessary and land is available, migrants whose lands elsewhere can be used to relieve congestion. In every case an overriding consideration prescribed by Statute (Section 31 (2) of the 1923 Act) is that the Land Commission must be satisfied as to the allottees' competence to work land and their intention to do so, and not to sell, let or assign it.
What is the order of preference, if any, to be given to those who claim to be members of the old I.R.A., and what is the definition of membership of the old I.R.A. for that purpose?
Dr. Ryan
There is no order of preference, and I do not know what is the definition of the old I.R.A.
Will the Minister say if certain parochial politicians have any authority from the Ministry or the Commissioners for stating that first preference will be given to those who are members of the Fianna Fáil Party?
Dr. Ryan
No.
Am I to understand from the Minister's answer that landless men are given precedence to the owners of uneconomic holdings?
Dr. Ryan
I said that there is no precedence for anybody.
Might I ask then why the Minister read out landless men before migrants?
Dr. Ryan
After reading out these six categories I said: "This is not an order of preference."
I refer the Minister to the end of his own answer, in which he said that that is generally followed.