asked the Minister for Lands if he will state how many acres of land the Land Commission has available in County Clare for distribution during the year 1949; if it proposes to acquire land in County Clare during the year 1949; and, if so, how many acres and how much of that land it is proposed to divide during this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Distribution of County Clare Lands.
The area of land at present in the hands of the Land Commission in County Clare is 2,672 acres. It is hoped during the present financial year to complete the acquisition of a further area of over 2,000 acres and to divide an area of some 3,000 acres. As regards this latter forecast, I would like to point out that a considerable area of the lands on hands is intended to be used in connection, with rearrangement schemes and that much will depend on the attitude of the tenants involved. I may mention that one scheme involving a large area in the Killaloe district has been held up for a considerable time because of the failure of one tenant to co-operate.
Will the Minister see that, when land is acquired by the Land Commission, it is divided as quickly as possible, since most of the land held by the Land Commission is never used as fully as it might be, agriculturally?
Certainly.