asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state in respect of each of the years 1943 to 1946 (a) the number of holdings taken over on account of the failure of the occupiers to cultivate the area of arable land prescribed by law; (b) the aggregate area of such holdings; and (c) the aggregate area sown to each crop after the holdings were taken over.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Enforcement of Tillage Regulations.
As the reply takes the form partly of a tabular statement, I propose, A Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission, to have it circulated in the Official Reports.
The reply is as follows:—
The following table shows the number of holdings entered, the aggregate arable area of such holdings and the aggregate area sown in the seasons 1943, 1944 and 1945:—
|
Year |
No. of Holdings Entered |
Aggregate Arable Area of Entered Holdings |
Aggregate Area Sown by the Department |
|
Acres |
Acres |
||
|
1943 |
73 |
3,786 |
1,071 |
|
1944 |
147 |
7,472 |
1,813 |
|
1945 |
66 |
3,197 |
888 |
In the current season, 63 holdings are being cultivated by the Department but the particulars as to aggregate areas are not yet complete.
The figures of aggregate areas under the different crops are not available in the Department and their compilation would entail references to the inspectors in the country and involve a considerable delay before a reply on this point could be given for the previous years.
The area sown under wheat in 1944 was 663 acres and in 1945, 488 acres.
The area cultivated by the Department does not always represent the total area cultivated on entered holdings, as in many cases the occupier carries out some of the tillage himself.