asked the Minister for Lands if in view of this country's imminent entry into the EEC he will consider the division of land held by the Land Commission as an urgent priority.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Division.
39.
Every effort is made by the Land Commission to dispose of lands as rapidly as possible. There are standing instructions, admittedly not always realisable, that lands should not be retained on hands longer than two years, save where the commissioners specifically direct otherwise.
An exception has to be made where lands are destined for migrants—buildings have to be erected and other improvements carried out—or where, in occasional cases, the preparation of resale proposals has to be deferred in the interests of ensuring that the scheme of division ultimately settled will be the best possible.
(Cavan): Could the Minister give an indication of the average waiting time between the acquisition and division where buildings are not involved? I suggest that it takes an average of from three to five years.
I should not think so.
In view of the fact that the Land Commission insist that they lose money while they are in possession, I cannot understand why they retain possession for such a long time.
There are many factors involved.
I got figures from the Minister which showed that something like half the land was kept for more than three years and some land was kept for seven years. The Minister made a promise in this House that he would cut that down to a maximum of two years. Will the Minister agree that there has not been any improvement in the position? In County Longford where there is no migration, land has been taken for three or four years and it has been let again recently. The local people were crying out for it and expected it to be divided this year.
If what the Deputy says is right I hope the Land Commission will take note.