asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what steps are being taken by the Irish Land Commission to provide turbary for the tenants on the Benjamin Morrow Estate (Record No. S.3633), near Glenamaddy, County Galway, and what has occasioned the delay in this matter since the reply of the Irish Land Commission on the same subject in March, 1935, when it was then being dealt with as expeditiously as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turbary for Galway Tenants.
Mr. Brodrick
I have nothing to add to my reply of the 7th March last to the Deputy's previous question on this matter. Arrangements for the provision of turbary are difficult and tedious and no avoidable delay has occurred.
Mr. Brodrick
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that when I asked this question last March I was informed that the matter would be dealt with as expeditiously as possible? Again, in reply to the solicitors for the tenants on the 14th May, the same answer was given. Now we come to the reply to the solicitors on 26th January, when they were told the Department had nothing further to add to the reply given in May. That is practically nine months ago. Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that when the tenants signed their purchase agreements for this particular turbary it was understood that the turbary would be divided among the 12 tenants? I wonder if the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that one of the tenants has 25 acres of turbary which he has set to outsiders to the disadvantage of the tenants who were promised turbary?
The matter was again considered as recently as last August, and it was not found possible to get alternative accommodation for the tenant about to be migrated elsewhere. As soon as a suitable and convenient holding can be obtained for him——
Mr. Brodrick
Is it not a fact that for political reasons one tenant is allowed to hold 25 acres of turbary on this property to the disadvantage of the other tenants? I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to ascertain if that is not the fact.
It is not a fact, and the Deputy knows very well it is not.
Is there any hope, so far as these people are concerned, of having a supply of turbary allotted to them before the next turf-cutting season? Does the Land Commission intend to deal with the matter at all? The mere fact that they are going to remove some person to another holding has nothing to do with the existing problem. When are the Land Commission going to deal with the bog there?
As soon as they can find alternative accommodation for the man living in that particular holding.