asked the Minister for Lands when turbary plots at Churchtown, Carndonagh, County Donegal, will be made available to those who previously had such plots at Altashane.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Turbary Plots.
11.
(Cavan): The Land Commission have no proceedings at present for the acquisition of the lands in question. A detailed inspection has however been carried out and it has been ascertained that the lands, which are held in undivided shares, form part of nine separate properties and in addition are subject to existing rights of turbary in favour of some 150 people. Acquisition proceedings in these circumstances would be both difficult and protracted.
The matter is under examination in the Land Commission but it is not possible to say just now whether proceedings for acquisition will be instituted.
In view of the fact that it was the Land Commission seven or eight years ago who suggested this as an alternative method of providing turbary for the people I have in mind, would the Minister not expedite a decision in this case?
(Cavan): I am sure the Deputy will agree that some consideration must have been given to it over the last seven or eight years. The information supplied to me by the Land Commission at the moment is, as I have stated that the property is owned by nine different people and it would naturally take some time to acquire it from them. If acquisition were successful the Land Commission would then have to try to fix up 115 people with turbary rights before they could get as far as the 130 people, approximately, in whom Deputy Cunningham is interested, and for whom I have considerable sympathy.
I am interested in both.
(Cavan): That is the position.