asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the Irish Land Commission instituted proceedings for the acquisition of the estates of J.J. Daly, Record No. S. 8844, Townland of Belleville, comprising 261 acres, and Patrick J. Daly, Record No. S. 9051, Townland of Knockbrack, comprising 270 acres, in County Galway; that the price offered, as published in Irish Oifigiúil on 29th May, 1942, was £1,900 and £1,250 respectively; that the Irish Land Commission recently intimated that acquisition proceedings had been withdrawn in both cases; and whether, in view of the fact that there are 29 landholders in the vicinity of these lands with poor law valuations ranging from £2 to £6, he will state the reasons why acquisition proceedings have been withdrawn; also, whether application has been made by the owners to his Department for permission to sell the estates in sub-divisions by public or private sale, and whether, in this event, he will undertake to refuse sanction to any such application in respect of these estates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Withdrawal of Acquisition Proceedings.
The owners of the two estates in question appealed against the respective prices fixed by the Land Commission for the lands. As the Appeal Tribunal increased the price in both cases to a figure at which the Land Commission did not consider it expedient from the financial aspect to proceed with the purchase of the lands, they served notice on the owners of their withdrawal from the proceedings pursuant to Section 24 of the Land Act, 1927.
No applications have been lodged by the owners for the sub-division of such of their lands as are subject to land purchase annuities. If any such applications shall be lodged, they are bound to be considered on their merits by the Land Commission. The permission of the Land Commission is not legally requisite for the sub-division of lands not purchased under the Land Purchase Acts.
Might I ask if I am right in assuming that the price fixed by the Appeal Tribunal was very much in excess of the price offered by the Land Commission, and, further, whether, when the Land Commission made the offer for these lands, they excluded from the offer the timber standing on the estate? In view of the fact that a considerable amount of timber is still standing on the estate, that there is acute congestion and that the herd, a man with a wife and nine children, is under notice of eviction, will the Minister request the Land Commission to go on with the proceedings for the acquisition of both estates?
I am not aware that there is a large quantity of timber on these lands. What the Deputy says in regard to the price fixed by the Appeal Tribunal is true. The price was very much in excess of the amount which the Land Commission was prepared to pay.