asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission has reached agreement on price with the owner in relation to the acquisition of the Noonan estate at Capard, County Laois; and, if not, if the Land Commission will acquire this estate at an early date in view of the considerable congestion in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Land Acquisition.
20.
(Cavan): Proceedings are in progress for compulsory acquisition of this 771 acre property.
An objection to acquisition was disallowed in March last and the Question of price now falls to be settled.
Is the Minister aware that the present alleged owner of this estate is now taking action for the removal of the occupant of one of the lodges on the estate? In the likely event of the Land Commission being unable to reach agreement on price, is there any way in which the Minister can encourage the Land Commission to speed up the proceedings and get a determination of price in the Land Court? The alleged new owner is seeking to remove a family who have been in occupation there for the past three generations.
(Cavan): The Deputy will realise from my reply that the objection to the acquisition was only disallowed a very short time ago, in March. As the Deputy says, I am sure that if it is unlikely that it will be possible to agree on price, the matter will fall to be dealt with by the appeals tribunal in the High Court without delay.
Could that be speeded up?
(Cavan): I shall bring the Deputy's request to the attention of the Land Commission.