asked the Minister for Agriculture the measures he proposes to take to expedite the allocation of land held by the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Allocation.
11.
Mr. Leonard
The staff of the Land Commission have been instructed to concentrate their attention on dividing the area of land — some 20,000 hectares — at present in their possession and priority is now being accorded to the preparation of land disposal schemes.
Where necessary, as in Counties Cavan and Monaghan, additional inspectors are assigned to expedite allotment.
Mr. Leonard
Is the Minister of State aware that there are many farms of which the Land Commission took possession more than ten years ago and which have not been allocated? The EEC farmer retirement scheme was introduced on 1 May 1974 by the present Ceann Comhairle, when he was Minister for Lands. On the day he introduced the scheme I rang the Department of Lands and asked them to send me a number of application forms. Two of the applications were subsequently approved but that land has not been allocated.
I share the Deputy's concern about the length of time it takes land to be divided. Since I became Minister of State I have taken steps to ensure that any additional land is divided among congests very speedily and this will become obvious in the next year. I agree with the Deputy that in normal circumstances the Land Commission should not have land on hands for ten years, which I appreciate has happened.
Mr. Leonard
I should be interested to know the view of the EEC with regard to the Department. One of the holdings I mentioned was land owned by a very efficient farmer but now the land has been completely run down. As a matter of urgency the Land Commission must take some measures to allocate the land. Alternatively, they should introduce some leasing system between the acquisition and allocation of land so that it may be put to good use.
I will consider all those matters. Some of the points raised by the Deputy will be considered very seriously. I hope when the review is completed that very little land will be left on hands. I agree throughly that we should not have land on hands because from the point of view of fertility it is a case of diminishing returns after nine or ten years.