asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that the Land Commission, when allocating the Darcy Estate, Newforest, County Galway, refused to give additional land to some suitable tenants with low valuations, and gave additional land to tenants with very high valuations; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allocation of Galway Estate.
41.
Mr. Donnellan
On this estate, which originally comprised some 1,110 acres, an area of 933 acres has been disposed of to date in 48 allotments. These include the rearrangement of 24 holdings with an average rateable valuation of approximately £5 16s. and the enlargement of 20 uneconomic holdings, the rateable valuations of which ranged from £3 3s. to £12 19s.
In his experience, the Deputy will know the difficulties confronting the Land Commission in the choice of applicants for land. The selection of beneficiaries is a very delicate business and the Deputy will appreciate that the Land Commission would not be disposed to give land to people who had already sold some or who had earning capacity independent of land. If the Deputy is concerned in any particular case or cases, I shall examine them but I cannot deal, in this House, with a land settlement operation which involved 109 applicants of varying personal circumstances, 48 of whom found accommodation on the scheme and 61 of whom did not.
Mr. Donnellan
I agree it would be hard to deal with it in this House.