asked the Minister for Lands if he will state, with regard to his statement in Belturbet, County Cavan, on 2nd December, at what date he expects the Land Commission to have completed their register of vacant and derelict holdings and lands that have been let for a period of five years or over; and at what date he expects to introduce the new Land Bill referred to by him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Register of Vacant and Derelict Holdings.
22.
Arrangements are in train for compilation of this register but as yet I am unable to say when they will reach the stage to permit effective action to be taken. I can say that the assembly of the necessary data is being hastened as much as possible.
I hope to introduce the new Land Bill in the next Dáil session.
Could the Minister say if the scheme will be operated province by province or county by county? Could he also say what the order of priority will be?
It is the intention, as we get the information, to operate the scheme county by county and, while the order of priority has not been determined, I should imagine that the congested counties should come first.
It will be province by province then, with Connacht first?
Until further progress is made with the register, it will be difficult for me to state precisely what the position will be.
In any case, it is the intention to deal first with what are regarded as the worst counties?
Naturally.
May I take it that the compilation will be made separately in each county?
Yes.
Is it the inspectorate of the Land Commission who are engaged in this work?
The first direction I have given is to the inspectors in the local offices of the Land Commission to expedite this job. The first information that will go into the register will be about cases that are already known to the inspectorate. The intention is to get on with the job, as the information comes in. This will not be a fixed register; it will be a continuing process.
Is the Minister satisfied that by reason of the preparation of this register, which involves quite a considerable amount of work on the part of the inspectorate, there will be no hold-up in the work of the inspectorate which is the acquisition of the land available at the moment, or will he need extra staff?
We shall do the best we can with the inspectorate. It is too soon for me to assess what extra staff will be necessary to deal with this matter.
But is the Minister satisfied that necessary work in connection with the acquisition of land will not be held up as a result of this extra work for the inspectorate?
I am so satisfied at the moment.
Will Mayo be the first county?
Mayo will not be the last county.
The Minister might be able to include Meath for a while.
One can never tell.