asked the Minister for Lands whether the Connors estate, Garranlea, New Inn, Cahir, County Tipperary, has yet been acquired by the Land Commission; and, if so, if he will state when it will be divided, as there is grave dissatisfaction in the district caused by the delay in holding up this estate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition and Division of Tipperary Lands.
The lands of Garranlea form part of the holding of Mary O'Connor on the estate of the Earl of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Record No. S.1837. The Land Commission have decided to institute proceedings for the resumption of 87 acres of these lands. The case was one of those held up by legal difficulties which have been removed by the Land Act, 1939.
Is it the intention of the Department to continue taking over land?
That is a separate question. The question on the Order Paper deals with a particular estate.
asked the Minister for Lands what steps have been taken by the Land Commission to acquire for division the Heffernan estate, Dogstown, New Inn, Cashel, County Tipperary; whether he is aware that the sale of this place was withdrawn in favour of the taking over of it by the Land Commission about four years ago; and, if in the circumstances, he will expedite the taking over of the estate for division amongst the numerous congests.
The Land Commission have had the untenanted lands of Dogstown on the Heffernan estate inspected and valued and the question of their acquisition is under consideration. The case was held up owing to legal difficulties and though these difficulties have been removed by the Land Act, 1939, emergency conditions now obtaining deter proceedings for the present.
asked the Minister for Lands what is the cause of the delay in dividing the lands of the late W.P. Hanley at Lanespark, Derryvilla and Ballynonty.
The Hanley estate comprises untenanted land and tenanted holdings, and division of the untenanted lands acquired by the Land Commission last year was deferred pending the completion of proceedings for resumption of the tenanted land (of which possession has recently been taken) in order that a comprehensive scheme of division might be prepared. This scheme has been prepared and is now under consideration.
I should like to ask the Minister if, pending the division of this land, he would consider the desirability of setting it? There is a big amount of arable land in that area and I think you should consider handing that land over to the Department of Agriculture in order to have it set for tillage purposes. It will be too late to do that in a month's time. This is an honest case where I believe you are going to divide the land, but I think in the meantime you should consider setting it. This land ought to be set in conacre, in order that it may be used for tillage and other purposes this year.
The points made in the Deputy's statement will have consideration.