asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether, in view of the very large numbers of men who have lost their employment as a result of the acquisition of lands, and who have not been allotted holdings when same were being divided he will state if any scheme for compensation to such people who have lost their means of livelihood is under consideration by his Department, and, if not, if he will consider introducing such legislation before the dissolution, as will provide compensation for such people.

Section 31 (1) (d) of the Land Act, 1923, enables the Land Commission to provide a parcel of land for a person being a labourer, who by the sale of lands under the Land Purchase Acts has been deprived of his employment on the lands, provided the Land Commission is satisfied as to his competence to work land and his intention to do so and not to sell, let or assign it. In allotting untenanted land, the Land Commission as far as possible provide holdings for the persons referred to above. There is no provision in the Act for monetary compensation and it is not proposed to introduce legislation for the purpose.

asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he will state why six labourers who lost their employment as a result of the acquisition of the Everard Estate, Ballyhist, County Meath, were not provided with holdings when the said estate was being allotted, and whether he will cause the portion of the Everard Estate not yet allotted to be divided among the six men referred to as part compensation for the loss of their employment and livelihood.

Portion of the lands referred to has been divided. In connection with the allocation of the remainder all deserving claims are being considered.

Will the claims of the four ex-employees be considered in preference to others?

That I cannot say, unless they come within the term "deserving claims."