asked the Minister for Lands whether John Moran, who lives in a gate lodge at Hollymount demesne, County Mayo, situate on lands recently in the occupation of Mr. McCartan, and forming part of the Lindsay-Fitzpatrick estate, was informed on the 21st instant by an official of the Irish Land Commission that unless he quitted the before-mentioned lodge that day the sheriff would be brought next day to evict him, his wife and family; further, to ask the Minister if any legal proceedings have been taken by the Irish Land Commission against this man, and why on losing his employment he was not provided with a holding of land as were the employees on this land, and whether there is not a house and out-offices recently occupied as a herd's house on the farm of Coolbawn (Bowen estate) which, together with unoccupied land on that farm, could be given to him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Possession of Gate Lodge.
John Moran, who occupies the gate lodge at Hollymount demesne under a caretaker's agreement from the Land Commission dated 1st March, 1932, terminable on demand, was notified by letter dated 15th instant that possession would be required by the Land Commission on the 22nd idem and a Land Commission inspector was duly authorised to demand possession from Moran. No legal proceedings have yet been taken by the Land Commission in the matter. Moran was not an employee of the owner on the estate. There is no land now available for allotment at Coolbawn on the Bowen estate.
What has become of the herd's house at Coolbawn to which I refer? Has that been allotted?
I understand it has been given to a migrant.
Has it been given to the doctor as the rest of this farm was? Does the Minister consider that a man who was working on the Hollymount demesne is not a more suitable person to get land than the doctor and national teachers who got the land?
There is no question here of a doctor or a national teacher. It was a migrant who was brought in. The man in whom the Deputy seems to be interested was there shortly before the Land Commission came. He had been working in the town of Castlebar, a good many miles away, and in 1932, when the owner of the estate sold, this man was employed by a man who purchased some of the timber. In order to facilitate him, the owner allowed him into a house on the estate. He was there for a couple of years but was not an employee of the owner.
Is the Minister aware that as well as working on the timber for Mr. McCartan, he also worked on the land for Mr. McCartan? I ask the Minister still further to inform me why he is not being given a house and placed on this Coolbawn farm instead of the doctor and teachers who got the land there.