asked the Minister for Lands whether there are any lands in the parish of Shannonbridge, Offaly, the subject of acquisition proceedings by the Land Commission at present for the relief of local congestion; and, if so, what action is being taken in this connection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
My information is that this is a congested area but that there is no suitable land there for acquisition. The only solution of the problem is the migration of some of the tenants.
Has the Minister discovered, from the records of his Department, that a number of farms have been listed for division, over a long number of years, in the Shannonbridge area which, in the opinion of the local people, are suitable for the relief of congestion in the area?
My information is that the area is a badly congested area without any suitable land being there for acquisition. I am not aware that the Land Commission has any lands in hands in the area.
asked the Minister for Lands if he has any recent reports from the Land Commission regarding the Ballyhassion estate, Walsh Island, Geashill, County Offaly, and if he is now in a position to say whether these lands will be divided.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of 2nd November, 1949, regarding these lands. Since then the Land Commission considered the question of resuming part of the holding and they decided not to take any action in the matter.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that, as far as this case is concerned, it is a closed subject as far as he and the Land Commission are concerned?
Not as far as I am concerned but as far as the Land Commission is concerned. They decided not to take any action. That does not preclude the possibility of any lands becoming available later.
Will the Minister tell the House what he can do that the Land Commission cannot do?
That is a different question.
asked the Minister for Lands if he has any favourable reports from the Land Commission regarding the division of lands in Killeshin area and Ballickmoyler area, County Leix, where great congestion exists; and, further, what action is being taken to relieve this congestion.
The Land Commission have no proceedings at present for the acquisition of lands in this area.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when the Land Commission propose to divide the lands of the late Mr. John Young at Brockley Park, Stradbally, County Leix, which were later owned by the late Mr. David Frame.
The Land Commission have decided to take no action for the acquisition of these lands, which comprise 33 acres only.
asked the Minister for Lands when the Land Commission propose to divide amongst the local people the lands on the O'Brien estate, Rogerstown, Edenderry, Offaly, and if he will state the reason for the delay in this case.
Proceedings have been instituted for the acquisition of these lands, but it is not possible to state whether or when they will be acquired. There is no avoidable delay in the matter.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have inspected the Hacket estate, Meelick, Rosenallis, Laoighis; and, if so, whether it is proposed to acquire it for the relief of local congestion.
These lands have been inspected, but no decision has been taken on the question of acquisition so far.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission propose to divide the lands on Lyons estate, Cappanarrow, Camross, Mountrath, Leix (M.L. 3821/48); and, if so, when it is proposed to allot the land to local smallholders.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands, but inquiries are being made.
asked the Minister for Lands whether, on 2nd July, 1948, he received representations (M.L. 2710/48) on behalf of a number of uneconomic holders in Shinrone area, County Offaly, who need land; whether he has had a report from the Land Commission on the matter and what action has been taken to relieve the plight of the local people.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what action has been taken to divide amongst local deserving applicants the lands on the estates of (i) Arthur Webb, Record No. V. 40950, County Offaly, and (ii) Richard and Marion Wallace, Record Nos. V. 4091, V. 4092, V. 4094; and, further, what action the Land Commission propose to take for the relief of congestion in Shinrone area, County Offaly.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I will take together Questions Nos. 8 and 26. Inquiries were made regarding the estate at (i) but the Land Commission have deferred their decision on the question of acquisition. Proceedings have been instituted for the acquisition of the estates V. 4091 and V. 4094 mentioned at (ii); there are no proceedings in respect of the estate V. 4092. As regards the Land Commission's activities in the Shinrone area, proceedings have been instituted for the resumption of one holding in this area and another case has been noted for investigation with a view to acquisition.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will arrange with the Land Commission for an immediate inspection of the lands of Major ChetwoodAiken at Kilbride and Woodbrooke, Portarlington, County Leix, with a view to their division amongst the local smallholders and deserving applicants.
The Forestry Division, not the Land Commission, is negotiating for the purchase of part of this estate.
Is the Minister aware that part of this estate comprises, in my opinion and in the opinion of the local people, good tillage land, and that it should not be used for plantation purposes?
My information is that a huge area in this estate is suitable only for planting. The Forestry Division are negotiating for the purchase of it.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission has decided to offer 125 acres of land on the Trench estate, Glenmalyre, Ballybrittas, Leix, to the owner, Mr. Trench, as a holding to his newlyerected house on the estate.
The answer is no.
asked the Minister for Lands what steps are being taken by the Land Commission to divide the Thompson estate, Iney, Ballyfin, Mountrath, County Leix, and whether the estate will be divided this year.
The Land Commission have decided not to take any action for the present regarding the resumption of these lands.
Does that mean that action may be taken at some time in the future in connection with these lands?
Yes—I understand that the question is to come up for review in a couple of months.
The Minister said yes and he said no. Which is it—yes or no? That is the type of reply which we used to get from Deputy de Valera.
Question No. 12.
asked the Minister for Lands if he has received any report from the Land Commission regarding the division of Deerpark estate, near Mountrath, County Leix, owned by Dr. Grenville-Gascoyne, and what action is at present being taken in the matter.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands but the matter has been noted for consideration.
Is the Minister aware that Dr. Grenville-Gascoyne is about to leave the area and that these lands will not be purchased by anybody by public auction? Would the Minister cause inquiries to be made, through his Land Commission officials, in this case?
That has been done for some time past.
And what is the result?
It is as I have stated.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that in the area of Luggacurran, County Leix, there are a number of very large estates; and, if so, whether he will request the Land Commission to examine the cases of the descendants of the Luggacurran evictions who have no land in the area and have to leave the district or emigrate.
The claims of the representatives of the evicted tenants will be fully considered in the event of any land being acquired in this area.
Would the Minister remind the commissioners that in this very area four or five large landholders occupy or own about 3,000 acres between them, while about 50 cottage tenants on uneconomic holdings have to try to eke out a livelihood for themselves and their dependents by taking conacre?
The proceedings in respect of some of the farms which I think the Deputy has in mind have gone fairly far along the lines the Deputy suggested.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will ensure that each applicant for land and each smallholder who applies for land on the Weldon estate, Kilmaroney, Athy, County Kildare, and County Leix, will be interviewed by an officer of the Land Commission and their cases considered on merit following investigation of all the circumstances of each applicant.
If these lands become available for allotment, there will be no departure from the usual practice in the consideration of applications and the selection of allottees.