asked the Minister for Lands if he is now in a position to state when the Flattery Nos. 1 and 2 and the Smith estates at Southpark, Castlerea, will be divided, and further, if he will ascertain whether, in the distribution of these lands, the needs of local congests will get prior consideration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Lands.
The Land Commission expect to be in a position to allot the lands in question by next spring.
Regarding the latter part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 10th March, 1948, to a question as to the order of priority of applicants for lands.
Is the Minister aware that these lands have been in the hands of the Land Commission for the past 15 years, and is he further aware that he is at this stage about to destroy certain machinery which has been used effectively during elections prior to 1948 by a certain Party in this House?
We will chance that.
asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that in the Knocknaboola bogs near Killorglin, County Kerry, there are 361 acres, two roods, of untenanted lands for redistribution among smallholders and landless men in the neighbourhood; and, if so, if he will state whether the propriety of dividing these lands among these people has come under the attention of the Land Commission; and, if so, with what result.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the lands of Knocknaboola, containing some 353 acres, which are the subject of a turbary and grazing trust, having been conveyed to trustees by the vendor, in connection with the sale of the Blennerhassett estate under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Land Commission have no proposals for the revocation of this trust.