andMr. S. Flanaganasked the Minister for Lands if he will state the acreage, poor law valuation, purchase price and total cost to the Land Commission of the lands and buildings allotted in County Meath to a migrant in exchange for lands at Lugatallin and Brittas, County Mayo, V.2908, the comparative figures for the lands surrendered and the amount of the net loss to the Land Commission on the exchange; and, furthermore, if he will give the dateson which it was decided that an exchange report be obtained and on which the exchange was approved by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Migrant's Allotment.
A holding comprising 222 acres in County Meath (P.L.V. £237 10s. land and £40 5s. buildings) was allotted to a Mayo migrant under purchase agreement dated 27th March, 1951. The price paid by the Land Commission for these lands was £16,000 in addition to which repairs to buildings cost £426 and removal expenses £200.
This holding was allotted to him in exchange for a holding of 272 acres (P.L.V. £161 5s. land and £11 buildings). The resale price of the Meath lands was £6,800 from which was deducted £2,181 occupation interest allowed him in respect of his old holding. Discounting the occupation interest, the net loss on resale was therefore £9,200, to which must be added the redemption value (£646) of the annuity on the Meath lands which ceased when they were acquired by the Land Commission, together with the cost of repairs to buildings and removal expenses given above.
The annuity on £3,000 of the net resale price of £4,619 on the new holding is subject to revision as also will be the annuity on the £2,181 occupation interest recoverable on the resale of the migrant's old holding.
The decision to obtain an exchange report was made on 26th March, 1949. The general outline of the exchange was settled by the commissioners on 14th November, 1950, and the exchange was finally approved on 26th February, 1951.
Can the Minister state whether he can make any more £16,000 jobs like this available for Mayo migrants as his predecessor has done in this case?
Can the Minister indicate when the lands in Mayo will be allotted to the tenants who are claiming them?
The position is that these lands will, of course, be allotted in due course, but it is expected that other lands will come in, making it feasible to have these other lands includedin the scheme. The other lands have not yet been acquired and I do not know when they will be acquired. I am looking into the whole question with a view to expediting a settlement of the scheme.