asked the Minister for Lands why an exchange of holdings to the mainland has been refused to tenants of Finnish Island, Carna, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exchange of Carna (Galway) Holdings.
Only one application for migration was received from the residents of Finnish Island. This application was fully considered but it was not possible to grant the exchange. One of the primary considerations in the selection of migrants by the Land Commission is the usefulness of their surrendered lands for land-settlement purposes. I understand that substantial improvements were effected on Finnish Island by the late Congested Districts Board. There is little the Land Commission could do now by way of further land-settlement short of the complete evacuation of the island, and I am not disposed to subscribe to that.
Is the Minister aware that there is something more important than a regulation of his Department involved in this? Is he aware that children on the island have not attended school for over a year and that the people there can hardly attend church on a Sunday? Surely that is more important than regulations of the Minister's Department?
I understand that the Department of Education are trying to find ways and means of providing primary school education. There has been only one request for migration. The island is accessible at low tide. The Land Commission was not in a position to grant the exchange.
Is the Minister aware that the manager has advertised for the transportation of children from this island to attend school on the mainland?
That is a matter for another Department.