asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he can state if the Irish Land Commission have issued instructions to their agent on the Stewart-Bam estate, Co. Donegal, to collect from the tenant farmers of the townlands of Gortnaleck, Kilmakloo and Creenesmear a fee of 1/- per head for their sheep grazing on Muckish Mountain.

The rate fixed by the Land Commission for sheep grazing on this mountain is 1/6 per head.

Is the Minister aware that the tenant farmers in the townland of Gortnaleck, Kilmakloo and Creenesmear have had the privilege of grazing their sheep on Muckish Mountain without having to pay any tribute to the landlord, and does he not consider that they should enjoy the same privilege or right that they had under the landlord? Does the Minister not consider that 1/6 a head for sheep grazing on a barren mountain is an excessive charge in view of the fact that some of the best land on the demesne has been let for 6/- per acre?

I have no personal knowledge that the tenants had the right of grazing from the landlord. As to the rate of charge, I understand that on Creenesmear Mountain it is 1/6, and that the grazing there is not as good as on Muckish Mountain.

Would the Minister state is the 1/6 per head by the month or by the year?

I presume it is by the year.

It is very cheap at that.

I understand that this right and privilege of grazing on Muckish Mountain is due to the fact that the mountain was part of their holding and that payment for their holding gave them the right of grazing on Muckish Mountain.