asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the total expense incurred by the State on the acquisition proceedings in connection with the McKenna estate, Derrygrullane, Curroy, Ballina, and the price fixed by the Land Court for these lands.

The total legal expenses incurred by the Land Commission in this matter amounted to £64 4s. The price fixed by the Appeal Tribunal was £475.

asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have considered the properiety of acquiring the Sweetman estate, Clohamon, County Wexford, for division among the small land owners, whose holdings adjoin the estate; and, if so, with what result.

The question of the acquisition of part of this estate is under consideration at present but a final decision has not yet been taken.

Can the Minister give me any indication as to when a decision will be taken on this estate, as to my knowledge the matter has been going on for over 18 months?

No, I cannot. I could make a guess and say six to eight weeks.

asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have yet reached a decision in regard to the proposal to acquire the Rodriguez estate, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, for allotment purposes.

The Land Commission have decided to take no further action in respect of these lands.

Would the Minister say what were the factors which influenced the Land Commission in coming to this decision?

The Land Commission does not give reasons for its decisions.

As a result of a question which I had on the Order Paper some time ago I was told the Land Commission was having a detailed report prepared on that particular estate. I wonder would it be possible to make that report available to the House?

No, that is not customary.

Would the Minister admit now that he has brought undue pressure on the Land Commission to withdraw from this for political purposes as a result of pressure brought to bear on him through Fine Gael Ministers in the Cabinet?

That is a despicable suggestion.

asked the Minister for Lands when a scheme will be prepared by the Land Commission for the allotment of the lands of Peter Gilmartin, Gortnaleck, Grange, County Sligo, which were recently awarded to the commission.

Though an objection to the acquisition of these lands was disallowed in July last the Order was stayed for a year, after which the case may be reviewed. At this stage the question of the preparation of an allotment scheme does not arise.

asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have considered the propriety of acquiring the O'Hara estate, Rathmore, Collooney, County Sligo, for division among small landholders in the area, and, if so, with what result.

This estate is the subject of certain negotiations which, for the present, must be treated as confidential.

It is very secret altogether.

There is nothing secret about it. When the Land Commission is dealing with a private individual, until the whole thing has been cleared up, the Land Commission surely should have the same advantage as a private individual in that their affairs should not be made public, because very often, if the inside details of a scheme of negotiation became known, their whole work might be frustrated.