asked the Minister for Lands what is the present position regarding the possible acquisition and division by the Land Commission of the Whitfield Estate, Modreeny, County Tipperary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Estates.
40.
The inquiries referred to in my reply to the Deputy's previous question on 11th November last have not yet been completed.
Does it really take the Land Commission two years to discover whether a German gentleman is the owner of these lands?
I think the Deputy is anticipating another question he has down. There is no question of two years in this case.
Yes; it is roughly two years on hands.
41.
asked the Minister for Lands what is the present position regarding the division of the Goor Estate, County Tipperary; and what progress has been made since a previous reply on this matter.
The position regarding this 183 acre property is still under investigation by the Land Commission and discussions with the owner's solicitor are continuing.
That is the same reply I got four times from the same Minister. Is it possible he cannot put the screw on the Land Commission?
Negotiations are continuing about this case and, until these are completed, I do not want to say anything.
This German gentleman flew over here as far as Dublin. He bought an Irish estate against the wishes of the people. He has never seen it. He stocked it with mountainy sheep. That was roughly two years ago. This is my fourth time putting the same question to the same Minister and getting the same reply. Does it take that long for the Land Commission to carry out an investigation?
If the owner flew from Timbuctoo, there are certain laws affecting land in this country that must be observed. Negotiations are going on for the voluntary purchase of this estate. These negotiations take time. There is the question of price to be considered. If they come on a voluntary basis, it is a far easier and cheaper way of getting these lands than by compulsory acquisition.
I understood any purchase of land in this country had to get the consent of the Land Commission. Have the Land Commission given consent to the sale of these lands?
No, there was no question of their consent being necessary before the passage of the Land Act, 1965.
Does it take the Land Commission two years to find out?
Not necessarily.
Put it down again this time two years and you will get the same answer.
We hope to have it divided by that time.
42.
asked the Minister for Lands when it is proposed to divide the O'Donnell Estate, Derryluskin, Fethard, County Tipperary.
It is not possible to forecast just now when this 90 acre property will be allotted but there will be no avoidable delay.