asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that acute congestion exists in the townland of Knockbroney, Ballyvary, and vicinity where there are a large number of tenants whose poor law valuations are under £5 per annum; that the Land Commission acquired a farm containing 125 acres from the late Mr. H.M. Canning, on the Blake-Knox estate, in said townland, as far back as 1930, for the purpose of providing economic holdings for the tenants in the above townlands, that the farm is still undivided; and if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken by the Land Commission to divide the said farm and provide economic holdings for the tenants surrounding it.
Written Answers. - Blake-Knox Estate.
The Land Commission are aware of the congestion in the townland of Knockavrony and vicinity, and on the 29th September, 1931, they resumed a holding of H.M. Canning containing 104a. 3r. 2p. for the relief of the congests on the C.D.B. (Blake-Knox) estate. A scheme for the division of this holding was prepared early in 1932 in conjunction with the rearrangement of other holdings on the estate, but subsequently it was found that the resumed lands were insufficient to meet the needs of the local congests and the scheme was deferred pending the completion of proceedings for the resumption of other non-residential holdings in the neighbourhood. These proceedings have been held up owing to legal difficulties, but under the powers conferred by the Land Act, 1939, the Land Commission propose to proceed for resumption of the local holdings required for a comprehensive scheme of division.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the area and valuation of Knockbroney farm, Ballyvary, on the Blake-Knox estate acquired from the late Mr. H.M. Canning; (b) the date when said farm was taken over from him by the Land Commission; (c) the purchase price paid for the farm; (d) the amount received by the Land Commission for conacre and grazing lettings each year since the farm was acquired; (e) the total cost of all improvements in respect of fencing, caretaking, etc., from acquisition to date.
The holding of H.M. Canning on the C.D.B. (Blake-Knox) estate, resumed by the Land Commission on 29th September, 1931, comprised an area of 104 acres, 3 roods 2 perches, poor law valuation £46 7s. The amount of compensation to the tenant was £1,050 and the price of the fee (landlord's interest) was £740, making the total purchase price of £1,790. The total amount received by the Land Commission for conacre and grazing lettings of the lands since the date of resumption is approximately £452, representing an average annual income of about £56 10s. per annum.
The total of expenses incurred by the Land Commission for the fencing, caretaking, payment of rates, etc., on these lands since the date of resumption is approximately £516.