asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have as yet taken possession of the lands of Edith Blake, Annaghdown, Record No. S.2593, County Galway, and if a scheme for sub-division has been prepared.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
The Land Commission have acquired part of the estate in question. A scheme of allotment has not yet been approved.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when the Land Commission intend to take possession of the lands of Mr. John Cunningham, Abbeytown, Record No. S.9682, County Galway, and whether a scheme for sub-division has been or is being prepared.
Proceedings are in progress for the acquisition of this estate, but it is not possible to state when possession will be taken or when a scheme for the allotment of the lands will be completed.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what lands the Land Commission have for distribution in West Cork.
The lands are:— Annagannihy, near Macroom; Coolnaclehy, near Skibbereen; Ardnagashel and Ardaturrish More, near Bantry; Coomacheo and Greeves, near Millstreet, and Shiplough, near Dunmanway.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state at what stage the process of acquiring the Jackson farm at Kilfenora, County Clare, is at present, and if, in consideration of the exceptional position respecting the supply of milk for the village of Kilfenora, he will urge expedition in this matter.
The proceedings for the acquisition of the lands of Kilcarragh on this estate are in the initial stage. There will be no avoidable delay in completing the proceedings.
Will the Minister say whether that is a copy of the reply he gave me some months ago?
I think there has been confusion either in the Minister's or the Deputy's mind as to two Jackson estates in close proximity in this area and it is possible that my former reply may have left the Deputy under the impression that the proceedings were in connection with another estate.
Does that mean that the Minister took the wrong estate?
There were proceedings for the acquisition of both Jackson estates.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware of the grave discontent amongst uneconomic land holders in County Dublin due to the fact that the Roscall estate, Ballyboughal, is about to be divided by the Land Commission among migrants, and, if so, whether he will request the Land Commission not to allot holdings to migrants in County Dublin until the local needs are met first.
The selection of allottees for new holdings and additions is and will be a reserved function of the Land Commissioners and I have no authority to interfere with their decisions.
Is the Minister aware that there are over 500 uneconomic holders in North County Dublin with an average of three acres of land? Will the Minister make a recommendation to the Land Commission that these people will be settled up with land before any more migrants are brought in?
Are we to understand from the reply that the question of the policy of the Land Commission is not decided by the Minister? This is a matter of policy.
The policy is laid down by the Government and the Commissioners are there to implement that policy as dictated to them by the Minister. The Deputy's question refers to a particular estate. The policy as laid down is that uneconomic holders are to get first preference and after that, if there is land left over, it must be left entirely to the discretion of the Commissioners as to how they will utilise it.