asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will give a portion of land beside the town of Portumna, County Galway, in exchange for land offered by a local farmer, so that an industrial site may be located there for a promised industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Portumna Industrial Site.
59.
Cavan): The Galway County Council recently applied for a 26-acre holding which was acquired by the Land Commission outside Portumna, the Council's intention being to transfer the holding to a local smallholder in exchange for other lands which could be used as an industrial site.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the Land Commission carefully considered this application but, having regard to local congestion for the relief of which the lands were acquired, they were unable to accede to the council's request and conveyed their decision accordingly. However, while the determination of the persons to be selected as allottees of any land acquired under the Land Acts is reserved by law to the Land Commissioners, I have, in the special circumstances of this case, asked that the matter be reconsidered.
Is the Minister aware that in answer to a similar question the Minister for Industry and Commerce said that it was discovered in Portumna that land owned by the Land Commission would be an ideal site for the industry and that an industrialist has promised to go there. The owner of the land decided his land would not suit because of water supplies and other things and he has offered to exchange portion of it. There is plenty of land in County Galway available for forestry, and I would ask the Minister to look personally into the matter, because an industrialist is coming to Portumna if he gets this site.
(Cavan): I do not know whether the Deputy heard my reply clearly or not.
I did.
(Cavan): I have explained that this is a matter entirely for the Lay Commissioners, but I have said that in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy I am asking the Lay Commissioners to reconsider the decision. That is as far as I can go.