Dáil Éireann - Volume 269 - 05 December, 1973

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Farm.

Mr. Crinion Mr. Crinion

23. Mr. Crinion asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission intend to acquire English's farm near Kingscourt, County Meath.

Minister for Lands (Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick, Cavan) Thomas J. (Cavan) Fitzpatrick

Minister for Lands (Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick, Cavan): The Land Commission recently carried out an inspection of the property referred to following which they decided not to institute proceedings for acquisition.

Mr. Crinion Mr. Crinion

Mr. Crinion: Is the Minister aware that there are a number of local people near this farm who have uneconomic holdings and that if this property were acquired it could be used to bring their holdings to an economic standard?

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan)

987

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): I must point out that the question of whether to acquire a holding is a matter reserved by law to the lay commissioners; the Minister has no responsibility for that. However, having said that, my information is that a full investigation of this holding was carried out as well as an inquiry into the [987] number of congests in the area. I am informed there were only two deserving congests and that both had been given allotments in the recent past. I am also told there was another farm in the immediate vicinity which has been offered on a voluntary basis to the Land Commission and, having regard to that, that it was not reasonable to acquire this holding.

Mr. Cunningham Mr. Cunningham

Mr. Cunningham: Although the Minister has said that he cannot interfere and has no responsibility in the matter, is he not worried about the figures in the last six months with regard to land acquisition——

An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is expanding the scope of the question. Question No. 23 deals with land at Kingscourt.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan)

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): The Deputy raised this matter by giving half the information that was given in this House in reply to a Parliamentary Question in the recent by-election in Monaghan and he alleged no land had been acquired in the last six months.

Mr. Cunningham Mr. Cunningham

Mr. Cunningham: Who alleged that?

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan)

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): Deputy Cunningham and others.

Mr. Cunningham Mr. Cunningham

Mr. Cunningham: Did I say no land?

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan)

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): Practically none. Notwithstanding the misrepresentations, the National Coalition acquired another Deputy.

Mr. J. Lynch Mr. J. Lynch

Mr. J. Lynch: Barely, with certain support——

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy

An Ceann Comhairle: Order. I am calling Question No. 24.

Dáil Éireann 269 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Meath Farm.

Questions

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