asked the Minister for Lands if with reference to a reply of 15th December, 1954 (Official Report Volume 147, columns 1649 and 1650) in regard to the acreage of land in the hands of speculators, he will state what progress has been made to date by the Land Commission in acquiring these lands for the purpose of dividing them into economic holdings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Land in Hands of Speculators.
My information is that my predecessor, following his reply to the Deputy's question on 15th December, 1954, sought from the Minister for Agriculture details of the cases mentioned by him in the course of the debate on a wheat prices motion on 2nd December, 1954, but that such details were not made available.
Is the Minister aware that in Volume 147 of the Dáil Debates figures are given of 104 men who had 40,000 acres of land in conacre? Surely the Minister is in a position to check the accuracy of those figures?
No information was given at that time.
Can we take it that the Minister got no information as to whether 40,000 acres of land were being exploited in conacre?
I have no such information in relation to any specific figure. If the Deputy likes to put down a question, I shall give him any information at my disposal.
Is it a fact that in the volume of the Dáil Debates I have quoted, there is a substantial statement made by the Minister for Agriculture giving the names of the counties and the people involved? Surely the Minister should be in a position to check whether or not that is so?
At that time no further information was received.
Did the Minister, in his reply to me in 1947, not say that inquiries were being made?
No further information was received to my inquiries.