asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the reason why all applicants for land on Hackett estate, Meelick, Rosenallis, Leix, were interviewed by the Land Commission except the one applicant who had an evicted tenant's claim; if he will further state whether the claims of evicted tenants are to be considered in connection with the division of this estate, and why this man was not called upon like all other applicants despite the fact that he first applied for land on this estate in the spring of 1938; and what is proposed to be done in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hackett Estate—Tenant's Application.
The claims of genuine evicted tenants or their personal representatives are always considered in competition with the claims of other applicants. The applicant in question is not an evicted tenant, nor the representative of an evicted tenant, under the terms of the Land Acts. He was not interviewed as he resides four or five miles from the estate.
Is it not the usual practice of the Land Commission to investigate the merits or demerits of every applicant for land? Surely the Minister is aware that when an estate is to be divided it is open to local smallholders, cottage tenants, Old I.R.A. men, evicted tenants and representatives of evicted tenants to have their cases investigated by the local inspector for submission to the Land Commission?
This man is not an evicted tenant or the representative of an evicted tenant and, therefore, he did not come into those categories of applicants whom the inspector would consider it right to interview.
How does the Minister know that this man is not an evicted tenant or a descendant of an evicted tenant when the Land Commission did not investigate his case?Can the Minister say who gave that information?
The Land Commission information is available. I presume that at some time he gave this information. In any case, the information is in the Land Commission, and I have no reason to doubt it. If the Deputy doubts it, well and good. Quite a number of people think they are evicted tenants, but to be an evicted tenant under the terms of the Land Acts, the 1923 Act defines an evicted tenant as a person who, within 25 years before the passing of the Irish Land Act of 1903, was the tenant of a holding to which the Land Purchase Acts apply and who was evicted from that holding in consequence of proceedings taken by or on behalf of his landlord, or, in case such person is dead, a person nominated by the Land Commission as his personal representative.
May I take it from the reply that, in the event of estates being divided, only a number of the applicants will be interviewed; that all the people who made applications for land need not be interviewed by the Land Commission and, therefore, their cases cannot be fully investigated?
As far as possible, all applicants are interviewed.