asked the Minister for Lands if he will introduce legislation (a) to empower him to make land available locally, whenever possible, to workers who are landless men but who can prove that they have an aptitude for the proper use and good husbandry of such land, and (b) to extend the mile limit to two miles in the case of smallholders who qualify otherwise for allotments of estates to be divided by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Holdings for Landless Men.
37.
The question of introducing legislation in relation to the matters referred to does not arise.
As regards (a), nothing in the Land Acts precludes such persons from qualifying for allotments: provision is, in fact, made for them on the division of lands wherever circumstances permit. I would, however, refer the Deputy to my remarks of 7th and 13th instant, when opening and replying to the debate on the Lands Estimate for the current financial year—Volume 195, Columns 2206-2227 and 2328-2338 and Volume 196, Columns 165-175.
As regards (b), for the economic and proper working of an enlargement, it is desirable that it should be within a reasonable distance of the allottee's residence. Such distance has been accepted as about one mile and it is not proposed to extend it.