asked the Minister for Defence if the four thousand acres of sound land known as "The Range", Kilworth, County Cork which is the property of his Department and which for all practical purposes is derelict, will be handed over to the Land Commission to be divided and properly worked.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Lands.
25.
The total area of the land at Kilworth under the administration of my Department is approximately 2,900 acres. All parts of this land which are suitable for agricultural purposes are let either to individuals or on a per capita grazing basis. Owing to military requirements none of the property is available for transfer to the Land Commission.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the greater part of this large tract of land is only used for a month or two of the year? In fact, the largest part is not used at any time during the year and is completely derelict. In view of the fact that there are many small farmers contiguous to this area it is in the national and local interest that this land should be taken over by the Land Commission immediately. The land has been derelict for 50 years.
I would not accept that because the land is not being used it is necessarily derelict. It is used, as the Deputy may know, for military requirements. The Deputy should know that as he lives in the area and I assume that is why he put down his question.
I am well aware, living quite near to this area, that there is only a very small acreage of it used for defence purposes. I am also quite well aware that for the last 50 years 2,000 acres have been practically derelict. That is a disgrace.
Approximately 122 acres of the land at Kilworth are let to individuals. Apart from these lettings approximately 800 acres of the lands at Kilworth are used for grazing of stock at per capita rates, whatever that means.