asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission is aware of the acute congestion that obtains in the Kiltullagh electoral division, County Roscommon; and, if so, what action it isproposed to take to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Congestion in County Roscommon.
The electoral division of Kiltullagh includes 44 townlands of over 11,000 acres and, obviously, cannot be dealt with as a unit by the Land Commission. The Land Commission are aware of the position in the area and are taking all possible steps to remedy it.
Is the Minister aware that in those 44 townlands there are approximately 408 holdings of which 348 are below £5 valuation and would the Minister not agree that there is no worse area of congestion in Ireland than that locality? In view of the heavy drain of emigration from that locality, would he direct the Land Commission to take immediate steps to remedy that position?
There is no need to direct the Land Commission to take immediate steps.
There is every need.
The Land Commission are quite busy in the area already. A certain number of holdings have been resumed or acquired. Other holdings are the subject of proceedings and quite a large number have issued for report with a view to initiating proceedings. The Deputy must understand that the Land Commission have a large amount of work in hands in County Roscommon as well as elsewhere. I can assure him that the inspectors are quite busy. They can only attend to matters in some order of priority. They happen to be quite active in this particular area.
They have been busy for 70 years.
Yes, and they have results to show, not like the Deputy.
In view of the fact that it would be impossible to relieve congestion completely in the locality, would the Minister ask the Forestry Division, which comes under his control, to investigate the possibility of setting up a forestry centre in that locality, which would be of value?
That is a separate question.
I asked the Minister what the Land Commission had in mind. I understand that the Land Commission have power in the matter of forestry as well as in the matter of land. Would the Minister not consider that afforestation would be a suitable means of relieving the congestion in the locality, and would he direct the attention of the Forestry Division on those lines?
That is a separate question.