asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consider having all commonages in County Galway divided as soon as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Commonage.
7.
The Land Commission have divided several commonages in County Galway in recent years and will continue to effect the division of suitable areas according as opportunity offers and resources permit. The amount of land held in common in County Galway—especially in the western part of the county—is large and its division into individual plots has to be viewed as a continuous and long-term undertaking.
I need hardly remind the Deputy that not all commonages are suitable for division. Low agricultural potential, difficulties as to lay-out, lack of interest on the part of the share-holders, not to mention high development costs, are often prohibitive factors.
I appreciate what the Minister says. However, is he aware that, from the point of view of the eradication of, say, TB and brucellosis, it is necessary for the Land Commission to have a direct policy in relation to the division of commonages? Is he further aware that one or two individuals in a rather large commonage—and the Minister is well aware that there are a number of very large commonages in County Galway still undivided—can hold up the whole proceedings? Might I inquire from the Minister if the Land Commission have a direct policy in this direction?
The Deputy will appreciate that the responsibility in regard to animal disease begins with the herdowner himself. He will have heard me saying already that the Land Commission are continuing, wherever possible, to take over and subdivide commonages where that is practicable. But it is very important that herdowners themselves should adopt a responsible attitude in the matter of animal disease, especially in the circumstances we now find ourselves in when, in the past four years, there has been a really catastrophic increase in the incidence of disease.
I appreciate what the Minister says and share his concern. So do the farmers who are owners or part-owners of these commonages. May I ask the Minister if the Land Commission have a direct policy?
That is repetition of a question.
Have they a direct policy regarding the revision of these commonages to enable farmers who have a conscience as far as the eradication of disease is concerned to help them along in that direction?
It is difficult to determine Deputy Donnellan's effort to relate the operation of the Land Commission to the disease eradication programme. The terms of reference of the Land Commission are laid down very specifically in the various Land Acts. As far as I know these terms of reference do not relate, even indirectly, to the control of disease. That duty falls, first of all, on the herdowners to operate the scheme under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.
From his reply the Minister seems to be associating the division of commonages with the take-over of commonages by the Land Commission and subsequent division. Would the Minister consider extending the powers of the Land Commission, and having a definite policy in that commission to encourage and facilitate the owners in the division of those commonages and, if necessary, to overcome objections by one or more commonage owners to such division?
That is a separate question.
This question relates specifically to County Galway. No allocation of land is made without full consultation with the local people. It would be in direct contravention of the accepted standards that an allocation of land should be made without this consultation.
This would not be allocated.