asked the Minister for Lands when the Sommerville Estate, Tykillin, County Wexford will be divided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Estate.
15.
Of the original area of 307 acres comprised in this estate, some 104 acres have been allotted by the Land Commission to date. Final arrangements have not yet been made for disposal of the balance of the lands but there will be no avoidable delay.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when the division of this estate will be finalised?
The division that has already taken place satisfies local needs, so far as I am aware. What is left is a question of migrants' holdings and in view of the building boom and the difficulty of getting contractors at the moment, I could not say when these final holdings can be allocated.
As the Minister is no doubt aware, there is a scheme to transfer a resident on another holding to this estate and that resident is living in a house with ten children under appalling conditions. Could the Minister indicate if it will be possible to finalise that exchange very soon, if not immediately?
The exchange will be finalised as soon as possible. These migratory holdings cannot be allocated before the buildings are completed. The completion of buildings on migratory holdings is often a vital factor in the transfer.
Is the Minister aware of the conditions under which the migrant is living? Is that the only consideration holding up the transfer?
I am aware of the conditions. The question of new buildings is a vital factor in a number of these cases in holding up migration.
And you cannot afford to build houses?
We can, but our contractors are so busy in the building boom that they have not time.
Not building houses but something else.