Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sporting Rights.

John Perry

Ceist:

136 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be allowed the first option to purchase sporting rights in view of the fact that they were transferred to her Department from the Land Commission; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that he is the only surviving member of the three families who had commonage on this area and has stock on it at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20235/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The management of the sporting rights reserved to the Land Commission were passed to the then wildlife service and currently rest with Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. It is the practice with Dúchas that, where there is no conservation reason for maintaining an interest and where the sporting rights are not leased to a third party, no objection is raised if a landowner applies for cancellation of the sporting rights reserved to the Land Commission. Application to extinguish the sporting rights reserved may be made to the Registrar of Titles under Section 18 of the Land Act, 1965.

The status of the sporting rights in relation to the lands in question is not clear from the details supplied. However, while it is not in my power to give preference to any one individual in respect of State property or any rights over it, if the person referred to furnishes additional information, I will be happy to arrange to have my officials investigate this matter further.