With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 15 and 16 together.
The selection of allottees is a function exclusively reserved to the Commissioners. I have ascertained from the Land Commission that applications on behalf of Mrs. Mary Fahey and Mr. T. Bellew were fully considered by the Commissioners in competition with other applications received but that, having regard to the acreage available for disposal and other considerations, it was not possible to provide them with allotments.
Under current policy, holdings and enlargements are planned to provide family farms of 40 to 45 acres of good land or the equivalent in land of mixed quality. Where, however, the acreage available for distribution is insufficient to bring all the qualified and genuinely deserving smallholders within the prescribed distance up to the optimum level of 40 to 45 acres, the land is distributed in a fair and reasonable manner amongst as many of such qualified smallholders as is practicable. All other things being equal, preference is given to married applicants with families. In this connection, I might add that in the division of the Loughnane Estate—containing 89 acres with a rateable valuation of £38—it was not practicable to bring any of the eight smallholders who received allotments, and all of whom are married with families, up to the optimum standard. I should say, too, that rateable valuation is by no means the sole determining factor in the selection of allottees. Other considerations such as farming competence, marital status, family circumstances etc. must and are also taken into the reckoning.
The remaining particulars are in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report. As I have often mentioned before, there is, of course, no secrecy regarding the identity of allottees—but I feel very strongly that there should be the least possible invasion of the affairs of private individuals, even when they are the recipients of allotments of land.
Following is the statement:—
|
Name of Allottee
|
Rateable Valuation of Existing Holding
|
Area of Addition
|
|
£
|
s.
|
(Acres)
|
|
James Ruane
|
22
|
7
|
13
|
|
Elizabeth Lally
|
21
|
10
|
6
|
|
Patrick Ryan
|
17
|
16
|
6
|
|
Laurence Mannion
|
22
|
15
|
19
|
|
John McElwain
|
21
|
1
|
6
|
|
Michael Killeen
|
22
|
5
|
8
|
|
John Collins
|
27
|
3
|
21
|
|
Michael Loughnane
|
25
|
10
|
8
|
|
Galway County Council
|
—
|
2 (road widening)
|
NOTE: The quality of the divided land varies from fairly good arable to inferior grazing. Most of the lower quality land is included in the two allotments biggest in area; the average value per acre of these two allotments is estimated to be about 40 per cent. of the average value per acre of the other allotments.
