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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Jul 1970

Vol. 248 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Applicants.

24.

asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of modern improvements in farm transportation, he will revise present Land Commission policy in regard to local applicants for land who live more than a mile from the estate to be distributed.

25.

asked the Minister for Lands if he will consider extending the distance which (a) a landless man and (b) an uneconomic holder can live from an estate to be divided by the Land Commission and qualify for a parcel of land.

With the permission of the Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.

For the economic and proper working of an allotment 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 in the case of an enlargement and about half a mile in the case of an accommodation plot. Experience has shown that this practice is reasonable and satisfactory and, in general, I feel it is true to say that the nearer an owner resides to his farm property the better it is worked.

Would the Minister not agree that this arrangement was made when the fastest mode of conveyance was either a donkey and cart or a pony and cart and that in this age of mechanisation it is unreasonable——

Is it in order, Sir, for a Deputy to cross between the speaker and the Chair?

Deputy FitzGerald should not cross between the Chair and the speaker.

There are a lot of Ministers crossing the line.

Order. Deputy Tully.

Would the Minister not agree that this limit of half a mile for accommodation plots and one mile for enlargement of holdings was fixed in the era of the donkey and cart and in view of mechanisation that the areas could be extended reasonably to five miles? I am sure the Minister has at the back of his mind the fact that this would increase the number of applicants entitled to get holdings but I think he should look into the matter. I am not asking him to give a decision off the cuff but perhaps he would investigate the matter.

I do not agree with the Deputy that any change is desirable. I consider that in order to work land efficiently it should be as close together as possible.

Would the Minister not make an exception?

Yes, but in general I would not agree with the Deputy's proposal.

Would the Minister not agree that with modern transportation a person can manage land two or three miles away by using tractors and so on? As a result of the existing regulations many deserving people are excluded merely because land is not acquired in their immediate area. If the changes suggested were made, the Land Commission could consider the most deserving people and not those who are merely within the prescribed area.

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