asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have sanctioned the sale of a non-vested holding owned by Mr. Laurence Cunniffe at Clooncun West, Blake estate, Glenamaddy, County Galway, and, if so, if he will state the reasons therefor, and the occupation and address of the purchaser.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of non-Vested Holding.
As is normal practice in the case of direct tenancies the Land Commission on 23rd June, 1954, consented to the sale of Mr. Cunniffe's holding in the townland of Clooncun West, subject to the exercise by them of their powers of resumption and rearrangement under the Land Acts. It is not the practice of the Land Commission to divulge names of purchasers. Might I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that this is a tenanted holding not an allotted unvested parcel?
I wonder is the Minister aware that the valuations in this townland range from £4 10s. down to 18/-? This holding is in the midst of a number of holdings where the valuations are only 18/-. When did it become the practice of the Land Commission to sanction the sale of an unvested holding? I thought the Land Commission were not doing anything like that in the very congested areas.
There is one thing the Land Commission must not do and that is interfere in any way with the sale of either vested or unvested land. That was a principle established by Michael Davitt long before either the Deputy or myself saw the light of day; and that is a system that will not be broken down for the Deputy or anybody else. That is what is at the root of the whole case.
Fair rent, free sale and fixity of tenure.
May I point out that the fact that the Land Commission has consented to the sale of this does not preclude that body from resuming this holding if it so desires?
I wonder if the Minister is aware that the Land Commission has now decided to rearrange the holding for the purchaser and give him a holding more convenient to the public road while dishing out this land to somebody else?
The Deputy is talking about something he knows nothing about. There is no addition being given to this man. He is helping people to rearrange in the area, and Deputy Killilea knows nothing about it.
I would like the Minister to reply to my last supplementary question.
The Land Commission is aware that there is great congestion in this and a few of the neighbouring townlands——
And always was.
——and the Land Commission is taking steps to relieve that congestion. This is a matter for the commissioners and not for me.
I wonder would the Minister tell us if there was a little pressure brought to bear on him by the Parliamentary Secretary's relations? The Land Commission is working for the Parliamentary Secretary's relations.