asked the Minister for Lands if he will vest shooting rights in respect of the lands adjoining Cong forest, County Mayo, in the owners of the lands in question.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Shooting Rights.
18.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that land owners adjoining Cong forest, County Mayo, object to the leasing of shooting rights over their lands without being consulted by his Department.
20.
asked the Minister for Lands if his Department have invited tenders for the leasing of shooting rights in respect of the lands adjoining Cong forest, County Mayo, comprising an area of approximately 25,000 acres; and, if so, if he will state from whom and when these shooting rights were acquired.
(Cavan): I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together.
These shooting rights were reserved to the Guinness estate on the sale of tenanted holdings under the Land Acts in the early years of the century. In 1939, when the Forestry Division of my Department purchased the forest and other lands at Cong which were in the possession of the Guinness family, the reserved shooting rights were included in the purchase and came into the ownership of my Department. The rights have since then been leased by my Department from time to time. On the expiration of the latest lease some months ago, tenders for a further lease were invited by advertisements in the national and western newspapers.
I have seen a recent newspaper report of some alleged local opposition to the re-leasing of the shooting rights; however, I would point out that no application for the transfer of rights to the landowners has been received by my Department. Any such applications which may be made will be fully investigated but I understand that such examination could take some time. In the circumstances the intention is to make a short-term lease for the present.
Incidentally, I am advised that, having regard to the nature of the terrain and the character of the holdings involved, the potential of shooting rights over a substantial area such as this best lies in combined rather than in individual ownership.
I am grateful to the Minister for the details he has given which will help to clear up some of the causes of the agitation in the Cong area. He mentioned that he was granting these leases——
Could I have a question?
Could the Minister indicate the length of the leases which he proposes to give on a short term basis? Will they be for three months, six months or nine months?
(Cavan): I understand that in the past, leases were given for ten years and five years. It will be shorter than that.
Will they be for longer than a year? There is a lot of very hot feeling about this.
(Cavan): I understand it would not be prudent to make the leases very short. That lends to perhaps an exploitation of the shooting. It is wiser to give leases for, say, two or three years. It will not be longer than three years.