asked the Minister for Lands if he will have a sports field provided for the inhabitants of the village of Gortroe, Youghal, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youghal Sports Field.
35.
(Cavan): I understand that an application for a playing pitch has been received from Gortroe GAA club and is at present being considered by the Land Commission. It is not possible to indicate at this stage whether the application will be successful.
Is the Minister aware that the only site available in this district is portion of a holding which was acquired by the Land Commission recently? Is he further aware that this village of Gortroe is to attain Gaeltacht status in the near future? Will he meet a deputation from the people of the village who were disappointed at the result of any applications they made and discuss the matter?
(Cavan): I do not want to score a point at the Deputy's expense because I know he was not here at the time, but I have been under pressure from Deputy Hegarty in regard to this pitch and therefore I am pretty familiar with it. The difficulty is that the holding the Deputy refers to contains only 14 acres and 35 perches. It has been acquired for the relief of congestion. There is a very acute demand for it from the local congests. There is another estate, as the Deputy may or may not know, in the vicinity which will be coming up for division. The Land Commission are looking into the whole position in an effort to help. I am sure Deputy Brosnan will appreciate that it is very hard to provide a playing pitch and to satisfy three congests out of an estate of 14 acres and 35 perches.
Is the Minister aware that there is no site on the holding which he proposes to acquire in the near future which would be suitable for a sports field?
(Cavan): I understand that there are quite a few large landholders in the area. It might not be outside the bounds of possibility that some of them would be sufficiently interested in the provision of a site to make one available. The Land Commission are anxious to help but their primary obligation is to the congests.
They do, of course, have special regard to the development of recreation amenities in small communities. They always have.
(Cavan): Of course, but I would ask the Deputy to be realistic. The Land Commission acquired 14 acres and 35 perches and that is called an estate.
That is the Minister's terminology.
(Cavan): I inherited it. Out of that, we have to try to satisfy three deserving congests and provide a football pitch.
Can the Minister satisfy the three deserving congests?
(Cavan): We are going some of the way.
Question No. 36.