asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries to state what is the position regarding the acquisition of the Porter Estate, Burt, Co. Donegal.

An offer made by the Land Commission for the purchase of the lands of Mulleny containing 243a. Or. 36p., formerly the property of Mrs. Porter and now owned by Mr. Robert Edwards, was refused by the owner. Proceedings were then instituted for compulsory acquisition under the provisions of Section 24 of the Land Act, 1923, and the owner lodged an objection to the acquisition of the lands. That objection has yet to be heard as the Land Commission have not been able to complete their inquiries in regard to one of the statutory points raised by the objector, namely, that there are other unacquired lands in the same locality suitable for relieving congestion which do not come within the exceptions mentioned in sub-section 2 of Section 24 which the Land Commission could acquire without exercising the special powers given by that sub-section.