asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the date of purchase by the Irish Land Commission of the farm known as Drum Farm, Electoral Division of Clogher, Rural District Castlebar, formerly owned by Mrs. Brennan; (b) the total amount of rents collected by the Irish Land Commission for conacre, grazing, etc., from date of purchase to March 31st, 1945; (c) when it is intended to divide this farm among the neighbouring congests; and (d) the purchase price paid by the Irish Land Commission for this farm.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Farm.
The Drum Farm in question was not purchased by the Land Commission. It was resumed from the tenant, Mrs. Charlotte Brennan, by the former Congested Districts Board on 18th May, 1920, and taken over by the Land Commission, together with a large area of other lands, on the dissolution of the board in 1923.
It would obviously be impracticable to ascertain the total amount of the varying rents derived in the period since 1920 from lettings of lands on the holding for grazing and tillage. In the season from October, 1943, to October, 1944, a sum of approximately £68 was derived therefrom.
It is not possible at present to state when the holding will be divided, but its disposal is under investigation. Many such resumed holdings on Congested Districts Board estates have had to be kept on hands pending the undertaking of comprehensive schemes of enlargement and rearrangement of local uneconomic holdings.
The price paid by the Congested Districts Board represented a sum of £1,353 for the fee simple, together with a sum of £1,600 compensation to the tenant.