asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists in the Kilcock area at the transfer to the area of migrants who have been allotted holdings on estates for which many qualified local persons were applicants, and whether in view of the dissatisfaction caused by the action of the Land Commission he will give an assurance that the claims of local applicants will be given prior consideration in the allocation of land acquired and divided by the Land Commission in the area.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare Estates.
The Land Commission always consider the claims of suitable local applicants before allotting untenanted lands to migrants, and in the four estates near Kilcock, which the Deputy probably has in mind, a portion of the lands acquired by the Land Commission on each estate was, in fact, allotted to local applicants in the first instance.
Is the Minister aware that persons who follow agriculture for a livelihood and who are landless men in this area have been ignored in the allocation of these estates; and does he consider it good policy to pass over the claims of deserving local applicants who will use the land to the fullest advantage, in favour of persons who are not resident in the area and who have no knowledge of the methods of agricultural production in the eastern part of the country, and thus cause considerable discontent in the area?
I cannot agree with the Deputy's assumptions. In the first place, due attention, as I mentioned in my reply, has been given to the claims of local applicants. Secondly, I am not satisfied that there are suitable local applicants, to any great extent at any rate, in the area whose requirements have not been attended to. Thirdly, I do not agree that persons from other areas might not be brought into the district if the Land Commission policy makes that necessary. I cannot agree with the contention that, because lands are being divided in certain areas, persons, merely because of the fact that they live in those areas, should have prior claim to those to whom it is the definite policy of the Government to give prior consideration.
If the Minister has any doubt that his policy is causing discontent and that many deserving local applicants have been passed over, will he consult the Deputies of his own Party who represent this constituency and ascertain from them the widespread indignation that is felt in the area at the policy of the Land Commission in importing migrants and ignoring the claims of deserving local applicants, and, having got that information from the Deputies who represent the constituency, will he reconsider his policy?
I am not satisfied that any discontent which the Deputy says may exist has a good foundation in this case.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission propose to institute inquiries for the acquisition of the Cussen estate at Killeighter, Kilcock, County Kildare, comprising 300 acres of land, with a view to the division of the estate among local uneconomic holders and landless men.
A notice under Section 39 of the Land Act, 1939, was published by the Land Commission in respect of the holding of Michael and Joseph Cussen, containing 371a. 2r. 29p. on the Cloncurry Estate at Killeighter. A petition against resumption was lodged by the tenants, and is at present pending for decision.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission have yet acquired the estate of the representatives of the late Mr. James Kelly, Maddenstown South, Kildare (Record U.5209), and, if so, whether he is in a position to state when the lands are likely to be divided.
The Land Commission have not acquired the estate of the Representatives of James Kelly at Maddenstown, Co. Kildare. An objection to acquisition has been made, and the case has been deferred pending further inquiries.