Blowick, JosephWednesday, 14 December 1955 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltarra Éireann Depot: County Donegal.
Owing to the amount of preliminary work—preparation of plans and specifications, seeking of tenders, etc.— which has yet to be done it is not possible at this stage to say when the actual work of exte...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
The answers to the various parts of the question are as follows:— (a) The acquisition considerations comprise all the factors which may have a bearing on the requirements of the relevant statutes. T...
In the 12 months ending on 30th November, 1955, the Land Commission entered into negotiations for the purchase, under Section 27 of the Land Act, 1950, of 28 holdings. Of this number, the Land Commis...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Tipperary Lands.
The information sought in parts (1) and (2) of the question is contained in a tabular statement which, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission, will be circulated in the Official Report. Part (3) cannot...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Turbary.
It is not possible to indicate when the development and allocation of this turbary can be carried out. The bog is not the property of the Land Commission and there are procedural difficulties which, ...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unoccupied Holdings.
The information sought by the Deputy is not available. In this connection I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 1st June, 1955, to a similar question by Deputy Ó Deirg.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clonown Area, Athlone.
As I stated in reply to a question on 27th April last regarding the Shannon flooding, the Land Commission prepared a scheme for the relief of farmers in the flooded area of the Shannon Valley. It was...
The Government took very swift action when the abnormal floods occurred on the Shannon last year. One of the first things I was directed to do was to prepare a survey, which was done, and done in a v...
I cannot forecast what decision may be taken as a result of the expert's report.
That is just silly talk.
It is propaganda.
It is the Deputy who has done that.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Speculators in Land.
As the Minister for Agriculture pointed out later, in the Seanad, the speculation referred to was not unlawful and did not of itself provide the Land Commission with a reason for acquiring the land af...
I have replied to Deputy McQuillan's question as put down on the Order Paper. What he has asked for are specific particulars of the cases that the Land Commission are engaged in with regard to these ...
And that is that.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Acquisition and Division.
The Land Commission instituted proceedings for the acquisition of these lands but the owner lodged an objection to acquisition which was allowed subject to a certain condition. The Land Commission ar...
No, I am not aware of that.
Proceedings for the acquisition of this estate have reached an advanced stage but it is not possible to indicate at present whether or when the lands will be acquired.
The Land Commission are making certain inquiries in this matter which for the present must be treated as confidential.
The proceedings the Land Commission have in hand are private at the moment.
The question of the acquisition of these lands is under consideration but a decision has not yet been reached. Extensive inquiries on the ground have been necessary.
I am informed by the Land Commission that there is no acute congestion in the vicinity of this estate and at the time of inspection last February, the lands were being worked. Other adjacent lands we...
I am not aware nor do I believe that any member of the House interfered with the commission or attempted to interfere with the commissioners, as suggested by the Deputy.
The Deputy can furnish proof of that? It will be very interesting if he does. The Land Commission have been informed by the inspectors that there is little or no acute congestion in the immediate vi...
I meant a man who had no other alternative means of livelihood.
That is not the information that the Land Commission has got.
The Land Commission does not depend on Deputies or any other outside parties for information. The Land Commission has the land inspected and it is on the report of their inspections that they act. If...
If the details are in conflict with the information I have been given I will reopen the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Roscommon Estate.
A scheme for the division of this estate has not yet been prepared.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Tipperary Lands.
A few years ago the Land Commission considered the question of acquiring portion of Lord Dunalley's lands at Islandwood and Stoneyacre, which consist of cut-away bog, but they decided to take no actio...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inspection of Tipperary Lands.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands but the matter has been noted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Mayo Lands.
The Land Commission have no proceedings for the acquisition of these lands but the matter has been noted.
I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the notice of the Land Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Estate.
Applications for land are regarded as confidential and I do not think it would be proper for the Land Commission to disclose the data sought.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Afforestation.
The Land Commission have called for a detailed report on these lands and will consider, inter alia, the suitability of part of them for afforestation purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kerry Forestry Centre.
As I informed the Deputy in reply to his question of 13th July, 1955, my Department has already established a forestry centre, Killorglin forest, in this district and a total of 320 acres has been pla...
If sufficient offers come in and sufficient purchases are made, I will be only too happy to establish a forestry centre there. At the present time the emphasis is on the establishment of as many fore...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment on Kerry Forestry Scheme.
As the Deputy is aware the Caragh Lake forest area is part of Killorglin forest centre. There is employment for some 35 men at the centre this season, which compares very favourably with the figures...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Distribution of Trees.
County committees of agriculture are authorised under the terms of the Agriculture Act, 1931, to make provision for the operation of shelter belt schemes whereby grants may be made for planting of for...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Forestry Land in Donegal and Mayo.
In the nine months ended 30th September, 1955, the areas acquired for forestry purposes in Counties Donegal and Mayo were 949 and 2,460 acres, respectively.
That depends upon the way in which the offers come in and the time it takes to get title difficulties cleared up. For instance in 1951-52 there were 3,957 acres acquired in County Donegal and none a...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Workers' Wages.
Forestry workers are paid the same rate of wages as is paid to roadworkers employed by the county councils of the county in which the forest lies. Under this arrangement any increase granted to roadw...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gangers' Wages.
The question of granting an increase in wages to both gangers and supervising gangers is at present under consideration and will be dealt with in the not so distant future.
Committee on Finance. - Forestry Bill, 1955—Money Resolution.
I move:— That it is expedient to authorise such payments out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas as are necessary to give effect to any Act of the present session to facilitate acquisitions of land f...
Committee on Finance. - Forestry Bill, 1955—Committee Stage.
The circumstances that led up to the introduction of this section really arise out of the 1946 Act, because in that Act the Minister had power, through the Land Commission, to acquire compulsorily, re...
I move the following amendment:— In sub-section (1), page 6, to add the following new paragraph after paragraph (ii):— (iii) The vesting Order sent pursuant to sub-section (7) of Section 26 of the Ac...
They actually have the right.
That is so.
I have considered this matter and the Deputy is quite right in saying that tenants who want to retain the commonage will be discommoded. While I use the word “discommoded” I want it to be quite clear ...
I do not agree with that. I shall explain why. I have given this point a good deal of consideration because I come from an area where a huge acreage of mountain land is all commonage. There are sev...
That is not so.
I have gone to extremes to make it quite fair. In case the forestry officials or the Minister might be biassed I have tried to put in every possible safeguard for the tenant. I am Minister for Lands...
Quite right. Nevertheless, if the Deputy peruses the Bill he will find I have put in as many safeguards as it was humanly possible to insert, and taken as much as possible out of the hands of the Min...
I know, but each individual tenant gets a certain proportion out of that commonage. While I have safeguarded those who do not want to sell, we must not pass any law which would give the right to two ...
That would not be free sale. That would be limiting the market very much. If Deputy Allen, myself or anyone else has something to sell, one of the rights of which we are jealous is that we be allowe...
Perhaps “stealing” in that case is too harsh a word.
They were appropriating it. Most of the people who are willing to sell their shares are those who cannot because they are financially restricted or have not the family help to look after the stock, a...
Not in determining the compensation for those who are willing to sell because there will be no compensation paid to those who are getting their share back. The question of compensation can only arise...
It is not. That is a statement the Deputy should not make.
Indeed, it is not.
Can the Deputy name one commonage where that is in force?
Of all the commonages in the West, I can assure the Deputy I do not know one.
I think Deputy Allen must have one particular commonage in mind, which is probably unique.
I think he has in mind a commonage in which the people are so bound up that they will not sell.
If that is so and if a majority of them do not offer it to us, the question will not arise. Secondly, suppose the commonage land is held by ten local farmers equally and supposing there are only two ...
That happens with an ordinary farm, business house, workshop or other property. If the husband and wife or the co-owners fall out, one of them can take the place into court and have it sold over the ...
I think he has not appreciated the full safeguards in this Bill and the care that I have given to it and that has been given to it by the draftsman and the forestry officials, who have been most fair...
Where is that in the Bill?
The initiative will come, in the first instance, from the tenants who wish to sell their shares in the commonage.
Perhaps it might in very rare instances. I could understand it taking place where the local forester might get local information that the majority of the holders are willing to sell. In the vast maj...
At that time the whole of the commonage has not been acquired. The Minister makes an application for the acquisition of the whole of the commonage but he does not get it then. It is only then that t...
Deputy Bartley I think is seeing ghosts where there are none.
I think he is afraid that the officers of the Forestry Division, the foresters, will go round the country putting their eyes on every kind mountain they come across. Supposing that the worst came to t...
I am only allaying the Deputy's fears. There is no preventive section in the Bill stopping the foresters from acting as I have suggested but what can they do more than to ask the commonage owners if ...
That is the position.
I know of a case in my own immediate locality where a husband and wife had a disagreement. The holding was in the joint ownership and it came before the Circuit Court which had no option but to order ...
And the case of the commonage owners would be between themselves.
Indeed it would be. I think the two Deputies are getting frightened of things that will never occur. The Deputies may come in here later on and grumble that the Bill did not go far enough. The Land...
I do not think the word “objector” is used in the Bill.
Certainly, he has under this Bill.
He has.
The Deputy has no right of appeal from the decision of the Land Commission.
Which deals only with price.
The lay commissioners.
What would be the purpose of that?
They may not be able.
That is right; that is a point.
Deputy Allen raises the point that the Minister should make application to the lay commissioners on whether a commonage should be acquired or not——
All right. Is not that precisely what I am doing?
Oh yes. Perhaps if I take the Deputy over the machinery proposed in this Bill, I might help to clear his mind on some of the doubts which he has. In the first instance, disregarding where the initia...
If they say it should not be divided, do they not reject the Minister's application for an acquisition order. Does not that satisfy the Deputy?
No, there is no element of intimidation in it.
No, because the objectors have full legal machinery to come into court, and the day that they walk into court before the lay commissioners they will have the same status and standing as the Minister o...
No, I do not agree with that and I do not think it would be right to allow that statement to go on the records of the House unchallenged. The initiative comes from the tenants who are willing to sell ...
If I am misrepresenting the Deputy I take it back, but what I want to point out is the effect of what the Deputy suggested. I took all that into account in framing the Bill. When I tell the Deputy t...
I think if I have made any mistake in this Bill it is that I have gone to too much trouble to safeguard the rights of objectors, and I imagine that they will come out better than those who are selling...
Private Members' Business. - Allotment of Holdings—Motion (Resumed).
If the Deputy would add “within one mile”.
If I might make a suggestion: would the Deputy put (c) and (d) together? If the Deputy will accept that I will go as far as I possibly can.
There are migrants within the Deputy's own county.
I am afraid that wording would be too broad when we come to try to put it into operation.
Would the Deputy accept my suggestion?
Would the Deputy not adopt my wording: “The provision of accommodation plots to vested cottiers where land is available after the needs of uneconomic holders have been attended to.” That is a new sug...
I could not accept (c) as it stands, but I am bringing the important part of (c) into the suggestion I am now making.
I do not think so.
And I am including in the suggestion a certain proportion of those in clause (c) of the Deputy's motion.
I could not accept that. It would be so broad it would nullify the work of the Land Commission altogether. The work of the inspectors would be multiplied tenfold and the thing would be no use in the...
Written Answers. - Land Acquisition.
These lands have not yet been acquired by the Land Commission.
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