asked the Minister for Lands if it is proposed to divide the farm at Doonmacphelim, Doolin (McNamara estate), which until recently was occupied by the late Mr. D. Gallery; and, if so, when it will be divided amongst the congests and landless men of that area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Doolin (Clare) Farm.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state why the herd on the Gallery farm, Doonmacphelim, Doolin, who has held the post for the past 20 years and is a married man with a family and has had service with the Old I.R.A. and the L.D.F., was refused a portion of the land while single men and an old age pensioner were accommodated.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take together Questions Nos. 20 and 21.
This estate has been allotted to six local smallholders who were considered by the competent authority to be the most deserving applicants. The claim of the herd was fully considered and the Land Commission decided not to allot him a holding.
Would the Minister state why the usual practice has been departed from in this particular instance? Whenever a herd was put out of employment as a result of land acquisition, it was always the practice of the Land Commission in the past to allot him portion of the acquired lands by way of compensation.
That is the usual practice where the herd is whole-time. I understand that this particular man was not employed whole-time as a herd. I also understand that he lives five miles away from the particular lands.
He was herding the lands for 15 years.
I do not know that he could be described as a herd in the strict sense of the word. That is the trouble.