asked the Minister for Lands if he will ensure that the letting of estates by the Land Commission on the 11 months system will be done by means of advertisement in two successive issues of the local newspaper and by public auction, rather than by private treaty.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Lettings.
20.
(Cavan): Current policy provides for the letting of Land Commission lands by public auction. This is accepted as being the fairest system and the one least likely to give cause for complaint. Only where there are exceptional circumstances are lettings made by private treaty.
It is the general practice of the Land Commission to advertise lettings, whether by public auction or otherwise, in one issue of the local newspapers and since these arrangements have proved adequate the further advertising suggested by the Deputy is not considered necessary.
Is the Minister aware that in Westmeath, last year at least, there was grave dissatisfaction over some—I stress some—lettings made privately? Is the Minister also aware that in some cases the advertisement was very scanty, I want to be fair to everybody, and that some land in the hands of the Land Commission was let to larger type farmers instead of to the smaller type who did not even get a chance to bid for it? That is the reason for my putting down this question. If it were more widely advertised everybody would be placed in a fighting position and more deserving people would benefit.
(Cavan): As I told the Deputy, the general practice is to let by public auction. The invariable practice is for the Land Commission auctioneers to follow the custom in the area in regard to advertising. That, in Westmeath, is to advertise in one issue of the paper which comes out usually on a Thursday or a Friday and not hold the auction until the following Wednesday or Thursday. I believe that sizeable advertisements are inserted. As a matter of fact, I am told that sometimes the auctioneers acting for the Land Commission, for some reason or another, insert bigger advertisements than the ordinary private ones. I am aware that the Deputy raised the question of one estate last year where there was some discontent or uneasiness about the manner in which the letting took place. But my information is that in that case the 1974 letting was advertised in January, 1974 and that after negotiation by private treaty the lettings were not actually made until April. If the Deputy will write to me or contact me about the case he has in mind I will go into it fully with him.
Is the Minister aware that in some cases the Land Commission do let privately to local smallholders? I know Deputy Sheridan did not mean that type of letting. I think the danger he foresaw was that of some cheque-book-man coming and taking it privately. I know that is not so in my area, that land is let privately on occasion to most deserving people.
(Cavan): Private lettings are arranged either for the protection of the local smallholders or the Land Commission: for the local smallholders where there are demonstrations and agitation and for the protection of the Land Commission where little rings are formed and where nobody bids against anybody else.
Is it not a fact that the Minister or the Land Commission have introduced policies similar to that in regard to the allocation of lands to the letting of lands? Is preference not being given to development and larger farmers at the expense of smaller ones in line with the allocation of lands?
(Cavan): I can assure the Deputy there has been no change in policy in regard to the letting of lands by the Land Commission, nor has there been any change in regard to the allocation of lands by the Land Commission, unless in the case of lands acquired under the retirement scheme. Of course, as the Deputy will appreciate, none of those lands has yet been allocated.
Deputy Sheridan, a final supplementary.
I should like to remind the Minister——
A question, please, Deputy.
——that the people I have in mind ask no more or no less than that those lands be let by public auction so that they will be placed in a fighting position whether jointly or otherwise.
(Cavan): I can assure the Deputy that unless there are exceptional circumstances of the nature indicated by me the lands will be let by public auction.
Would the Minister confirm that it is the policy of the Land Commission, both in advertising and in regard to the size of their lettings, that smallholders, those who are most likely to benefit from the allocation of land later, are the people whom the Land Commission should be geared to help?
(Cavan): I am satisfied that smallholders get every opportunity of taking the land and that the lands are advertised and put up in lots suitable to them.
Question No. 21.
Surely the Land Commission specifically state that it must be let to the highest bidder? Therefore, that rules out the smaller people.
I have called the next question.
(Cavan): I do not think that is so.
It is happening anyhow.