asked the Minister for Lands why a bachelor (name supplied) in County Mayo, 48 years of age, who had 78 acres of land was given 30 acres by the Land Commission in view of the fact that five small farmers with 14 to 20 acres and who have young families were not offered this land.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Land Allocation.
27.
The selection of allottees is a matter that is exclusively reserved to the Commissioners.
In the present instance I am informed that this small property was divided last March amongst two local smallholders. The parcel allotted to the person referred to in the question contains 30 acres of rough land, subject to turbary rights, with a rateable valuation of only 25 pence. Prior to allotment he had had a continuous letting of the parcel of upwards of 20 years. His existing holding comprised 68 acres, rateable valuation £9.50, which is estimated to be the equivalent of 26 acres of good land. I should like to add, since Deputy Finn is not here, that the situation involved here concerns my immediate neighbours and my parents' immediate neighbours and friends for a long time. I should like to reiterate, perhaps, wearily on this occasion, that the function in this matter rests with the Land Commission and not with me and long before I became Minister for Lands I had made representations on behalf of many, if not all, of the neighbours in question to the Land Commission but it is their function and not mine to decide.
The Minister's representations were not successful?
In some cases, yes, and in some cases no. I do not make representations against people. I make them for them.
I am not doubting the Minister's integrity in the least.
It is a source of regret to me that some people fail to understand——
I do not think anybody would doubt the Minister's bona fides.
I doubt very much if Deputy Finn put down this question with any ulterior motive.
I am not suggesting for a moment that he did.
Is it not the case that land is regarded with great envy in the west of Ireland?
I am afraid it is regarded with great envy everywhere now.