asked the Minister for Lands what is the cause of the delay in proceeding with the division of the Ireland estate, Mertonhall, Borrisokane, County Tipperary.

Owing to legal difficulties of title, the Land Commission have not yet been able to obtain possession of the lands of Mertonhall on the Ireland estate. It is not possible to say at the present stage when the lands will be divided, but there will be no avoidable delay.

What are the legal difficulties to which the Minister has referred? Are they such as to justify this extraordinary delay?

The Ireland estate is being purchased under Section 36 of the Land Act, 1923. Possession has not been taken of the land as the title thereto has not been proved by the owner. The abstract of title was lodged on the 12th February, 1941, and the examiner is investigating the title in the matter. As soon as the question of title is settled, I anticipate that there will be no undue delay in dealing with this matter.

Am I to understand that responsibility for the delay rests entirely with the owner and that the Minister and his Department are doing everything possible to expedite division of the estate?

What does the Deputy expect the Minister to say—peccavi?

Is it a fact that the Land Commission informed the owner of their intention to take over these lands in January, 1940, and, again, in November, 1940? Will he say, in view of his answer to-day that the Land Commission are not yet in a position to take over the lands, what is proposed to be done with these 300 acres? Are they to be left derelict?

Is the Minister aware that a statement has appeared over the name of the alleged representative of the late owner to the effect that the Land Commission are entirely responsible for the delay?

I leave it to the House and the public to judge of that. These lands cannot be taken over until the question of title is satisfactorily settled. The abstract of title was lodged with the Land Commission on the 12th February.