asked the Minister for Lands whether it is proposed to hand over to a co-operative society some 300 acres of the lands of Moorepark which were recently transferred to the Land Commission under the provisions of the State Property Act, 1954 by the Department of Defence; and if in view of the fact that this society has already several hundred acres of land in the Mitchelstown area he will state why this land was not divided among uneconomic holders in the district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of County Cork Lands.
9.
A proposal for the setting up, on part of this large estate, of a cattle progeny testing station in conjunction with the A.I. service is under consideration. There is a sufficient acreage to provide additional land for suitable uneconomic landholders in the immediate area and some surplus lands will be available for migrants.
Is the Minister aware that it took some 18 years of hard fighting, in this House, to get this land transferred from the Department of Defence to his Department for division amongst suitable applicants and uneconomic holders? Does he think it right now, at this stage, that some 300 acres of that land can be handed over to a co-operative society who already have several hundred acres of land in their possession?
It is a shame.
I have been informed that the Department of Agriculture have already approved of this scheme which is essential for the development of the A.I. service, and that land is going to be used for progeny testing. I have already told the Deputy that there is sufficient acreage to provide additional land for uneconomic landholders and there will be surplus land available for migrants.
Would the Minister not consider the fact that there are some 40 unfortunate tenants there suffering under the most cursed lot of landlords that have ever existed in this country, namely, the Department of Defence, and would he consider moving these tenants into that land?
After all those years!