asked the Minister for Lands whether the lands in Baleneendorrish, Castledaly, County Galway, comprising some 2,165 acres, which have been recently assigned for forestry purposes, were acquired 17 years ago by the Land Commission and have been in their possession ever since; and, if so, why these lands were allowed to remain derelict and unused for the past 17 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation: County Galway.
With the exception of 13 acres on hands since 1940 and 24 acres since 1954, the rest of the area comprising over 2,100 acres only came into possession this time last year.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the present position in regard to the acquisition by the Land Commission of the Satchwell lands, Creggs, County Galway.
The Land Commission have not completed their inquiries regarding these lands.
When will the Minister be in a position to tell us when these inquiries are likely to be completed, in view of the fact that they have been going on for about 12 years?
I am sorry I cannot give the Deputy that information.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the present position in regard to the acquisition by the Land Commission of the lands of Mr. Caslin, formerly Hancock estate, Hillstreet, County Roscommon.
Proceedings for the acquisition of 87 acres of this estate have reached the final stage and it is expected that possession will be taken fairly soon.
asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission are prepared to reconsider their decision in regard to the lands of Mr. Hamilton, Ashfort, Hillstreet, County Roscommon, comprising 500 acres, with a view to acquiring at least a portion of them for the purpose of easing congestion in the locality.
The Land Commission do not propose to alter their decision to take no action regarding the acquisition of this estate. It is expected that local congestion will benefit from the acquisition of other lands in this district.
Would the Minister agree to bring this to the notice of the commissioners: that in the farm in question, there are approximately 500 acres? It is alleged to be broken up into four distinct units, which is untrue—because the four people concerned are in Australia and elsewhere. One individual is utilising the 500 acres and is not utilising them for agricultural purposes—tillage, and so on. If portion of the land of this farm were acquired, it would, in conjunction with the land the Minister has referred to, relieve at least 20 smallholders in the area by bringing their holdings up to an economic level. Would the Minister request the Land Commission to give further consideration to this matter, in view of the fact that there are 500 acres there?
The Land Commissioners are a court appointed by this House to decide what land will be taken and when it will be taken. I see that the commissioners have investigated this particular case on quite a few occasions.
It never went before the Land Court.
That has not stopped them from inquiring into it. The Land Commission are prohibited by this House from taking land that is being used in certain ways. They must obey the law made here.
Where there is a great demand and a definite necessity to relieve congestion, could the matter not be decided by the Land Court? I would be satisfied, and the tenants in question in the locality would be satisfied, if a decision were made by the Land Court, as a result of activities of the commission in the initial stages.
It does not matter whether these decisions are made in their office or publicly or privately in their court. All decisions are made by the Land Commissioners.