asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (1) the total acreage of land held by his Department in County Kildare, (2) the present use being made of such land, (3) the amount spent by his Department during the past 30 years in (a) removal of scrub, (b) reclamation and liming, (c) application of fertilisers, (d) reseeding, and (e) any other of the methods recommended to the agricultural community by the Department of Agriculture as conducive to good husbandary and increased production; and if he will now avail of recent legislation to hand over this land to the Land Commission for division.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Lands.
The particulars requested by the Deputy at (1), (2) and (3) of his question have been complied in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The possibility of transferring some of this land to the Land Commission is being borne in mind, but it must be recognised that, over a large part of the area, military requirements and existing rights would present obstacles to this course.
Following is the statement:—
LANDS IN CO. KILDARE VESTED IN THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE.
|
Location |
Approximate Acreage |
Use |
|
Curragh |
4,200 |
Portions are used for military purposes, horse racing, horse training and sports purposes. The entire property with the exception of certain enclosed areas let for residential etc., purposes is subject to sheep grazing rights as defined by the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1870, to which and the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1868 the property is subject. |
|
Blackrath and Athgarvan adjoining Curragh. |
39 |
Let to two tenants expect for a small portion covered by roadway. |
|
King's Bog or Commons near Kildare. |
655 |
In use as Commons. |
|
The Strand, Ballymore Eustace. |
4 |
Portion let to local authority, balance to private tenant. |
|
Naas, North Moat |
1 |
Let to private person. |
|
Naas, South Moat |
2 |
Let to local authority. |
|
Total Acreage |
4,901 approximately. |
Expenditure by Department of Finance (Office of Public Works) under heading 3.
|
Expenditure |
Sub-head |
|
£ |
|
|
6,000 approximately |
3 (e) |
NOTE:—Separate parcels of land occupied by barracks or other buildings or yards and other amenities attached to buildings are not included in the above statement.
Is the Minister aware that for the past 30 years not 5/- has been spent on the whole of that area? The Minister, I am sure, travels through the area periodically, but I wonder did he ever look at the amount of scrub and furze that is growing there? This was formerly 4,000 acres of good land that gave happy homes to 100 families. I would ask the Minister to give this matter further consideration.
Is it intended to use this land to test the hydrogen bomb?
Is the Minister in a position yet to indicate whether he has received a report from the committee set up——
I do not think so.
Is Deputy Corry speaking for Kildare?
Yes, he was thrown out of Cork.
Order!