asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the Webbs Estate, Kilmore, Nenagh, County Tipperary, in the midst of a congested area, is up for sale by private treaty in five lots; and, if so, if he will see that those lands are not allowed to be sub-divided if subdivision is necessary; and if he will also see that they are taken over and divided amongst the congests when the emergency is over.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Estates.
I have no information as to the private sale of the lands in question. As the Deputy has been already informed, the Land Commission have no power or intention to prevent private sales of land by the owners, but such sales do not prevent the possible exercise in future of the powers of acquiring lands for division accorded to the Land Commission under the Land Acts. I cannot forecast the future action of the Land Commission in particular cases. An inspection was made of the lands in question some years ago, but no decision as to initiating proceedings for acquisition was arrived at and the case is at present governed by emergency restrictions.
Will the Minister see that the Emergency Powers Order applies to these big landowners as it does to others, and stop the sale of these lands?
God be with free sale.
The Land Commission has no power or intention of preventing private sales.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission have inspected the lands of Ballydrehid, about 70 acres, on the Charters Estate; and, if so, what is the report of the inspector, and if those lands will be taken over after the emergency for division amongst the congests whether they are sold or not.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that a small farm of 30 acres at Garnavillea, Cahir, Colonel Charters Estate, has been sold, and if he will state what steps were taken by the Land Commission to acquire this land for division among the congests of the district, and what was the report of the inspector who visited those lands; also if he will state that there will be a stop put to those sales until after the emergency.
I propose to take together the Deputy's two questions relative to the Charters estate. The Land Commission had an inspection made of the lands of Ballydrehid in 1936 and decided to take no action regarding their acquisition at the time. I am unable to say what, if any, action the Land Commission may take in future in this matter. The Land Commission have not had any inspection made of the lands at Garnavilla (containing only 34 acres) and they have no proceedings for their acquisition.