asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the acute congestion which exists in the Birr area, County Offaly, he will request the Land Commission to reconsider the propriety of acquiring the estates of (a) Lord Decies at Kinnitty, Birr, and (b) Captain Bennett at Clareen, Birr.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
These two cases have been noted for consideration by the Land Commission.
Is it not a fact that the Land Commission, or the Forestry Department, have taken some action in connection with the Lord Decies estate? If any action has been taken, what was the nature of it?
I do not propose at the moment to say whether or not any action has been taken. The Deputy should be aware that questions of this nature may only do severe damage and cause embarrassment to my Department.
Does the Chair think it is in order for the Minister to threaten me by suggesting that my questions are doing harm, that I am causing damage through putting down these questions?
I say that Deputy Flanagan has done no good either to the Forestry Department or to the Land Commission by putting down this type of question. In cases where the public interest is best served by not giving certain information I do not propose to give it.
Can the Minister say if the whole position with regard to the land supposed to be owned by Lord Decies has been aggravated by the gentleman who is supposed to be the owner of the land dismissing the majority of the men who were employed there over a period of years?
That is a separate question.
The Minister is very well aware of it and he has been told it on more than one occasion.
asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will have the possibility of the acquisition of the lands of the late James Dunne, The Ford, Graigue, Mountmellick, County Laoighis, for division amongst local deserving applicants investigated.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when it is proposed to divide the balance of the Robinson estate, Kilnacash, Mountmellick, Laoighis, amongst local applicants as this land has been let by conacre for many years past.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when it is proposed to acquire for division amongst local people the lands of Mrs. Margaret A. Colton (Rec. No. U. 14400) at Mullaghanish, Croghan, Daingean, Offaly, in view of the fact that this matter has been under consideration for a long period.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when the Land Commission propose to divide the lands on the Thompson estate, Iney and Springfield, Ballyfin, Mountrath, County Laoighis, in view of the fact that this farm has been listed by the Land Commission for division for several years past.
asked the Minister for Lands if he has any up-to-date information from the Land Commission concerning the division of the lands of Bridget O'Brien on Dooley estate, at Cavemount, Daingean, Offaly (Rec. No. U. 14026), and if objections have been heard by the land court; and, if so, with what results.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I will take together Questions Nos. 11, 19, 20, 25 and 31.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition or resumption of any of the lands mentioned.
Will the Minister request the Land Commission to have a preliminary inspection carried out with a view to seeing whether the land will be suitable for acquisition and division among the local people?
The question of any particular land to be acquired is a matter for the Land Commission. The Deputy should know the law in this matter as well as I do. I would be quite prepared to make a reasonable allowance in the case of a Deputy who is only a short time a member of the House, but Deputy Flanagan has been here for six or seven years and he should know the position. He should be aware that this House has left to the commissioners certain functions with regard to land, and this is one of them.
The Minister should know that I have never shirked my responsibilities, be they good or bad, as the Minister is doing at the moment.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission have considered the propriety of acquiring 200 acres of the Fisher (now William Carter) estate at Timogue, Stradbally, County Laoighis, what action it is proposed to take to acquire the balance of 100 acres; and why this 100 acres has not been acquired already.
The Land Commission have instituted proceedings for the acquisition of 201 acres of this estate and they do not propose to acquire the balance.
Is this not a departure from the customary procedure of the Land Commission over a long period of years? Is it not a fact that the Land Commission in almost every case proceed, first of all, to acquire the whole of the land and reallocate, where it is considered desirable, portion to the person in occupation? Why has this planter—and he is nothing more than a planter—been put in the privileged position of being left the house and a large number of acres, and why is not the remainder being acquired for the relief of congestion?
In this case the land was not acquired and reallocated. The Land Commission, having examined this particular case, decided to take the greater portion of the farm and, I presume, they gave what they considered to be an economic holding with the house, a sufficient acreage to suit the building.
Even to a planter—an invader?
Can the Minister give us any idea what is the nature of the hidden hand that has influenced either himself or his office to leave this planter with 100 acres of fine land?
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to the division of the lands of Mr. Jeremiah Groarke, situated at Nahedmore, Mount Temple, County Westmeath, comprising 185 acres, amongst the many local deserving applicants, in view of the fact that they are set by conacre.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to the division of the lands of the late William Johnson (now in the possession of Mrs. G. Allen), Ballinalack, Mount Temple, Moate, County Westmeath, amongst local deserving applicants and when it is expected that those lands will be allotted to the successful applicants.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to division of the lands of Mr. Richard Mangan, Rathlumber, Edenderry, Offaly (Record No. U. 2928) and when it is hoped they will be allotted amongst local deserving applicants.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state if any report is available from the Land Commission concerning the application of local smallholders and Old I.R.A. men for division of the lands of Mr. Abraham at Kilcarron, Geashill, County Offaly, recently offered for sale and not sold, and if the Land Commission will have a further inspection made at an early date.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will take together Questions Nos. 13, 15, 21 and 34.
The Land Commission have decided not to acquire the lands mentioned in these questions.
I desire to object to my questions being taken in this form. I have placed them in a particular way and I desire to have a separate reply, for my own convenience and for the convenience of the House. Surely it would not be inconvenient for the Minister to give me a separate reply to each question?
If the Deputy wants the same reply repeated five times I am quite willing to do it.
I want a separate reply to each of my questions. What question has the Minister replied to just now?
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to the division of the lands of Mr. James Gaynor, Aughafin, Moate, County Westmeath, comprising 170 acres in a most congested area convenient to the town of Moate, amongst the many local deserving applicants.
Proceedings were instituted for the resumption of the lands in question. A petition against resumption has been heard and judgment reserved.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state if the Land Commission have considered the propriety of accepting an offer of the Cox estate, Roskeen, Geashill, County Laoighis, for division amongst local people in the area; and, if so, when it is expected to have a decision in this case.
This estate has not been offered to the Land Commission.
May I inform the Minister that I have seen a copy of the offer from the solicitors, Messrs. Fetherstonhaugh and Carter? It has been offered to the Land Commission. What is the use of the Minister coming to the House with that sort of information?
No offer for this land has been received by the Land Commission or by any official on their behalf.
There has been an offer made by the representatives of the late Mrs. Cox.
That is not so.
asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the fact that it has been decided not to acquire the lands of Mr. Matthias Moore, Lunville, Edenderry, Offaly, he will state what lands will be acquired to relieve local congestion.
The decision as to the particular lands to be acquired is a reserved function of the Land Commissioners.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the total acreage of land held by Mr. Matthias Moore, Lunville, Edenderry, Offaly, so far as the Land Commission are aware; and if he will state the grounds on which the Land Commission have decided not to acquire portion thereof for the relief of congestion.
It is not the function of the Land Commission to furnish the information sought in the first part of the question. As regards the latter part the Land Commission are not required to give reasons for their decisions in such matters.
In view of the fact that Mr. Matthias Moore is the owner of quite a number of large and improperly worked holdings, might I request the Minister to ask the Land Commission to investigate the possibility of acquiring one or two of his ranches?
That has been done as the Deputy knows, and the commissioners have refused to take the land.
asked the Minister for Lands if the land of Colonel E. C. L. Bearcroft (Record No. S. 9816), Ballybrittas, County Laoighis, and the lands of Mr. Thomas S. Trench (Record No. S. 9815), Ballybrittas, County Laoighis, will be divided this year.
The Bearcroft estate has been acquired but it is not possible to state what will be the outcome of the proceedings in respect of the Trench estate. I cannot forecast when allotment will take place.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the present position and what recent progress has been made by the Land Commission in regard to the immediate division of the bog on Gilleece estate, Clonbollogue, County Offaly, amongst local applicants.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether it has been decided to acquire for division amongst local people the lands of Mr. Richard Gilleece, Clonbollogue, County Offaly (Record No. S. 9751); and, if so, whether a scheme for their division is in course of preparation and when it is expected that the lands will be allotted.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will take together Questions Nos. 23 and 33.
Proceedings are well advanced for the acquisition of part of the bog in question. The Land Commission have no proceedings in respect of the other lands.
Might I ask again— and I ask for a ruling from the Chair— whether I can have a separate reply to each question?
The Chair has no function in that matter.
The Minister is not replying as he should. Arising out of the Minister's reply, in view of the fact that the Land Commission may not have a scheme prepared for the division of the Gilleece property, will the Minister issue instructions in order to see that those bogs will be set immediately to the tenants?
Is the Minister aware that such instructions were sent out ten days ago?
That is so.
I wonder is the Minister aware that the people have not got the turf banks?
The season is a bit late.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to the division of the Hackett estate, Meelick, Rosenallis, County Laoighis, amongst local deserving applicants.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the progress made with a view to the division of the lands of Mr. Michael Gowran, Down, Daingean, County Offaly (Record No. S. 5940), and if they will be divided this year.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when the lands on the Fossett estate, Kilbeg, Geashill, County Offaly (Record No. S. 9814), will be divided amongst local people.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will indicate the progress made by the Land Commission concerning the division of the Delaney estate (Record No. S. 9981), Cannakill, Daingean, County Offaly, and whether it is proposed to divide the lands this year.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when it is proposed to divide the lands of Mr. O'Brien, Rogerstown, Edenderry, Offaly, and what progress has been made by the Land Commission in this matter.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the present position concerning the division of the lands on the Weldon estate, Kilmaroney, Athy, County Laoighis and County Kildare, and if the portion owned by Mr. Owens will be divided this year.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when it is proposed to divide the lands of Mr. Patrick Gowing (Record No. S. 9813) at Ballyowen, Daingean, County Offaly, amongst the many local deserving applicants.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I will take together Questions Nos. 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, and 33.
In all these cases, proceedings are not completed and, consequently, it is not possible to state when the lands will be allotted.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the price has been fixed for the purchase by the Land Commission for division amongst local people of the lands of Mr. Michael Gowran (Rec. No. S. 9893) at Clonearl, Daingean, County Offaly, and when this farm will be divided.
The answer to the first part of the question is "no." The question of allotment will be considered if and when the lands are acquired.