asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will state the number of farmers prosecuted for contraventions of the Compulsory Tillage Orders during the currency of such orders; the number of convictions secured and the total amount of the fines and penalties imposed, and whether he will state further the number of cases in which lands were entered upon and taken over by the State arising out of the failure of the owners to comply with the Compulsory Tillage Orders and the acreage of the lands so acquired.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Contraventions of Tillage Order.
140 occupiers have been or are being prosecuted because of their failure to comply with the requirements of the Tillage Order which was in operation last year. In 124 cases in which convictions have already been recorded, fines amounting to £1,120 9s. 6d. have been imposed. No legal proceedings have yet been instituted for breach of the order for the current year.
Last year possession was taken of six holdings whose occupiers failed to take reasonable steps towards complying with the requirements of the order then in force. These holdings comprised 306 statute acres. Under the provisions of the current order, entry has been effected on 97 holdings, comprising 6,167 statute acres.
Would the Minister repeat the number of holdings that were entered upon compulsorily?
This year?
Yes, this year.
The number was 97.
Did these cases occur mostly in the grazing districts?
No, they are practically in every county.