asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware that the holding of Mr. Michael Walsh, situate at Barley Hill, Bohola, was recently offered for sale and if he will state whether, in view of the local congestion in the area, the Land Commission will acquire the holding for the relief of congestion.

The Land Commission are having inquiries made regarding these lands.

Is the Minister aware that a report was submitted by the local inspector of the Land Commission seven or eight months ago in this case? Will the Minister try to hurry them up to reach a decision in this matter?

asked the Minister for Lands if he will state whether the Land Commission have considered the propriety of dividing the estate of Lord Decies, Castle Bernard, Kinnitty, Birr, Offaly, amongst local deserving applicants, ex-employees, evicted tenants from the estate, and other applicants in the area, and if he will state the date of the last inspection.

A report on these lands was obtained in January, 1950, and the Land Commission decided not to institute acquisition proceedings.

Why?

In view of the fact that the local people who have had these lands in conacre for a number of years past were amongst those who came to interview the Minister recently and that when they returned home on the 28th November Lord Decies gave them written instructions to have their live stock removed by the 30th November, does the Minister consider this in accordance with Government policy on land division in the area?

Is the Minister aware that there are 28 acres of ploughed arable land on this estate for the last three years and that Lord Decies or his representatives refuse to give so much as a perch of conacre to local farmers, 40 in number?

That is a separate question.

Would the Minister consider resigning and getting out of the Department of Lands?

asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to the division of the lands of Captain Bennett at Claneen, Birr, Offaly, amongst local deserving applicants.

It is not possible to identify these lands from the information furnished.

asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware of the offer made by the owner of Killeen estate, Knockbarron, Kinnitty, Birr, Offaly, to give the lands to the Land Commission for division amongst the local deserving applicants; and if he will state whether the Land Commission has accepted or rejected this offer.

I am informed by the Land Commission that these lands were not offered for sale to them.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, Mr. Killeen has informed me that he made an offer to the Land Commission of these lands and the Minister has not got the correct information from the Land Commission judging by his reply to-day. The lands were offered to the Land Commission.

If the lands were offered, there would be a record in the Land Commission. They were definitely not offered to the Land Commission.

asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made by the Land Commission with a view to the division of the lands of Professor Grenville-Gascoyne, at Deerpark, Mountrath, County Laoighis, amongst local deserving applicants.

The Land Commission have decided to take no action for the acquisition of these lands.

In view of the fact that Gascoyne is one of the aliens referred to in the reply given by the Taoiseach to a parliamentary question, will the Minister request the Land Commission to give special consideration to the acquiring of these lands for division among the local people?

asked the Minister for Lands if he will say with reference to County Dublin (a) the total acreage of land acquired by the Land Commission since he took up office; (b) the location of the holdings acquired, and (c) the number of new holdings created.

An area of 131 acres was acquired at Gracedieu, Ballyboughal, in the period in question. Proceedings are in progress for the acquisition or resumption of a further 917 acres. Three new holdings were created, but only one of these has been allotted.