asked the Minister for Lands what stage has been reached in the proceedings for the acquisition of (a) the Hickey Estate, Crosspatrick, Johnstown, County Kilkenny, and (b) the McGrath Estate, Nurney, County Carlow.

Agreement was reached in October last for voluntary purchase of the estate referred to at (a) in the question but possession of the property has not yet passed to the Land Commission; as regards the estate at (b), certain dealings are pending between the Land Commission and the owner which for the present must be treated as confidential.