asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) if it is the intention of the Irish Land Commission to take over the lands known as Drummagh, Claremorris, owned by Mr. Jeremiah Higgins; (b) if he will state the area of the lands to be acquired; (c) the price offered recently by the Land Commission for these lands; (d) the price offered for the same lands in 1932, and (e) the area of all the lands held by Mr. Higgins.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Claremorris Lands.
The Land Commission are proceeding for the acquisition under Section 24, Land Act, 1923, of the lands of Drummagh containing some 32 acres, owned by Mr. Jeremiah Higgins. A price of £375 for these lands has been fixed and published, against which the owner has lodged an appeal to the Appeal Tribunal and the appeal is pending for hearing.
No price for these lands was previously fixed, but in November, 1931, when land values were higher than at present, the Land Commission were prepared to give a price of £550 but the owner objected to the acquisition of the lands.
In addition to the lands of Drummagh, Mr. Higgins who is a businessman residing in the town of Claremorris, appears to be the rated occupier of 57 acres of land in the townland of Clare.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, will he say if it is the policy of the Land Commission to interfere with tenants who have only about 50 acres of land, and to leave big grazing ranches in the district owned by Lord Oranmore and the Marquis of Sligo, containing over 2,000 acres each, untouched? Is that the policy of the Land Commission?
There is nothing about the policy of the Land Commission in the main question, consequently, the Deputy's supplementary question is not relevant.