asked the Minister for Agriculture the action he proposes to take to ensure the availability of land to those capable of putting land to the best use for themselves and the economy.
23.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Policy.
22.
Mr. Leonard
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any plans to up-date the rules governing the allocation of land by the Land Commission.
24.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any plans for winding up the Land Commission or for restructuring it to fulfil a new role in Government land policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
25.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will implement the Fianna Fáil White Paper proposals on land restructure.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 25, inclusive, together.
I am at present engaged in a comprehensive review of all aspects of land policy, including the proposals contained in the White Paper, "Land Policy" published in December 1980. The purpose is to secure the optimum use of our land resources through an integrated programme which will facilitate the movement of underutilised land into the hands of those willing and able to work it to full capacity.
I have no plans for winding up the Land Commission as I believe they can still have a central role to play in the operation of land policy.
Mr. Leonard
Would the Minister not agree that a retirement scheme would be central to any land structure change and does he expect to get funding from the EEC for the purpose of increasing substantially the retirement pension? Would the Minister agree that this is central to any scheme to be introduced?
I would accept that a farm retirement pension scheme is a vital ingredient where land mobility is concerned. I am currently looking at ways and means of improving the situation. We are all aware that the last retirement pension scheme was not very successful. At present the EEC Commission are also looking at certain proposals and as soon as they come to hand we will consider how they would operate here.
The Minister says that there are no plans for winding up the Land Commission. There had been rumours about its winding up for a number of years. Has the Minister any plans for restructuring the Land Commission or the procedures or purpose of the Land Commission? Does the Minister think it still serves a useful purpose to buy up and distribute parcels of land here and there when there is a wide demand among young farmers all over the country for land for leasing? Does the Minister intend to restructure the Land Commission to provide land for leasing rather than for redistribution?
An in-depth reappraisal of the activities of the Land Commission is under way. It is my intention to give them a new direction. This country badly needs a new land policy. While I said in my reply that it is not proposed to disband the Land Commission, it is certainly proposed to give them a new role in order to bring them more into line with the aspirations of farmers in the eighties. Many aspects must be considered such as the importance of mediumand long-term leasing of land, the concept of group purchase schemes for small farmers and the whole question of land rearrangement and the division of commonages. I am deeply invloved with all these matters in order to ensure greater land mobility.
Hear, hear.
When does the Minister propose to bring in the draft legislation?
The legislation which is proposed deals with land leasing and the protection of farmers who are leasing to tenants in order to ensure that the tenant has only the type of rights that will be agreed between the farmer and the tenant on the date that the contract is made. The legislation will be brought before the House during the next session.
Up to now the Land Commission would not distribute land to landless people. Is it envisaged that land will now be made available to such people with certain qualifications? Will the Minister consult with farm organisations such as the Farm Apprenticeship Board, the IFA and the ICMSA?
Regarding the second part of the question, I have had detailed discussions with all interested parties on many occasions on all aspects of land policy. There is great expertise on matters relating to land among the staff of the Land Commission and it would be very appropriate in the future if this would be harnessed in the proper manner. With an imaginative approach and the expertise available in the local offices we can have a very useful land policy in the future.
What role does the Minister see the Land Commission playing in this new policy? How does the Minister consider that group purchase schemes will function? Does he see the Land Commission playing a part in assisting these groups?
The concept of group purchase is, in my view, a good one. I believe it should work all over the country. Heretofore small farmers did not come together to buy estates jointly. I have issued instructions to the area offices of the ILC to give every possible help to such groups. For obvious reasons inspectors will not be involved in the formation of the groups but once a group has been formed and has purchased land, the ILC staff will give every help and encouragement in the provision of maps and the allocation and division of land.
(Interruptions.)
I will allow Deputy Kitt to ask a question. We could discuss this matter for weeks.
In view of the fact that we recently passed a Bill giving extra money to the Land Commission to acquire land, I would ask why land is not now being acquired. Are we to take it that the acquisition of land by the Land Commission has ceased? Are the Land Commission drawing up the register we have heard about whereby only suitable applicants can purchase land?
The land bonds which we spoke about in the House some months ago are being used for the most part to pay for land already acquired. It takes almost two years from the serving of a section 40 order until the land bonds are made available. We were providing for the acquisition of land which had been going on for 18 months or two years. It is the intention of the Land Commission to hold their acquisition powers so that under certain conditions land could be acquired, but the new policy will mean that for a variety of reasons the Land Commission will not become involved in the normal traditional acquisitions.
Who is responsible for the drawing up of the rules of eligibility of those who are entitled to land? Will the Minister list the categories in order of priority?
That should be a separate question but in so far as it relates to the relief of congestion, which is the traditional way that the Land Commission have been dividing land, the House is well aware of the criteria used — size of farm, size of family, distance from a particular estate, whether there is offfarm employment, age of farmer and so on.
Is there a set of rules for eligibility?
As the system has worked over the years, there has been. However, for obvious reasons it is not a black and white case, because it is well known that most families have more or less the same standards in so far as they have the same amount of land. Land Commission inspectors often make decisions in favour of one or the other.
Will the Minister supply me with the guidelines as applied by the Land Commission?
I will be delighted to do so.
Is it the Minister's intention to make land available to landless people and, if so, what will the qualifications be?
In reply to an earlier question the Minister said all land would be redistributed soon and I should like to know why, if this reappraisal is taking place, the distribution of land holdings by the Land Commission is not stopped.
As far as future policy about landless people being eligible for land is concerned, I firmly believe that the land leasing system holds exciting prospects for the agricultural community and there will be a place for landless people subject to certain criteria to be worked out. In reply to Deputy Mac Giolla I should like to state that every effort is being made to ensure that all land on hand is distributed as quickly as possible.