Vol. 518 No. 3
116 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if tenants of an estate (details supplied) in County Mayo enjoy fishing and shooting rights on the basis that they have been paying ground rent to the State for the past 68.5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11405/00]
This estate was a tenanted estate which was sold by the owner to the tenants in June 1905 with the Irish Land Commission providing the necessary finance. It appears from files lodged in the records branch of my Department that a number of tenants were involved and that the sporting rights within the meaning of the Irish Land Act, 1903, to which the vendor was entitled over and upon the holding had been leased by the vendor to another party for 21 years from February 1904. The agreement for sale between the vendor and tenants states that these rights shall be vested in the tenants on the expiration of this lease. This agreement also states: "The rights of all parties in the waters of the River Owenmore are to be preserved as they at present exist".
The present position would appear to be a matter between the individuals concerned and the Land Registry office.
