asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that considerable damage is being caused by cattle and deer to unemployed plotholders' allotments in the Phænix Park; that thousands of cabbage plants, seeds, potatoes, etc., are being eaten or trampled on and destroyed; that the plotholders have come to the conclusion that it is no longer worth their while to continue to cultivate the land unless protection against the trespass is afforded to them by the Board of Works, who receive the rents for the grazing of the cattle in the Phænix Park; and if he will afford this protection without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Phoenix Park Allotments.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for Finance if representations have been received from the Dublin Corporation as to the damage by deer to the produce of the allotment holders in the Phænix Park, despite the very substantial fencing erected by the Corporation, and the efforts of the allotment holders to protect their crops; and whether, in view of the fact that a very large number of the allotment holders are unemployed men, the Minister will take prompt action to afford the plots effective protection.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. The Commissioners of Public Works have no responsibility for the fencing or protection of the lands concerned. When arrangements were being made for a letting of lands in the Phænix Park for tillage allotment purposes to the Dublin Corporation it was made quite clear to them that the Commissioners of Public Works could not undertake to provide the necessary fencing to prevent access to the allotments by cattle and deer and that such fencing would be a matter entirely for the corporation. It was pointed out that the exclusion of deer would present great difficulty.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister ask the Board of Works, the receivers of the rents for the cattle and the owners of the deer, to take steps to impound the deer in another part of the park? Is he aware that 250 unemployed men have £1,000 worth of seed planted in these plots which is estimated to produce £3,000 worth of food, all of which is likely to be lost if the trespass continues? The Board of Works are drawing the grazing rents and the members of the Unemployed Plotholders' Association think that, in view of that, the board should share in the cost of effectively protecting the plots.
Is the Minister aware that the corporation has already erected a very substantial fence around those allotments, and that it has no authority to interfere with the deer which are trespassing on and destroying this land?
All the facts were brought to the notice and knowledge of the corporation, and of the allotment holders, before the latter took these areas for tillage. Both arranged that they would do the fencing, so that it is their responsibility and nobody else's.
May I again point out to the Minister that a substantial fence has already been erected there by the corporation?
Mr. Byrne
Why could not the deer be fenced in in another part of the park?
All these facts were brought to the notice of the people who took the land.
Mr. Byrne
There is food to the estimated value of £3,000 belonging to those unemployed men going to waste.
This is the responsibility of the corporation and not ours.
Mr. Byrne
The Board of Works are receiving the rents.
It is not our responsibility. It is the responsibility of the corporation. The Deputy cannot shift the responsibility over to us. I will not allow him anyway.