asked the Minister for Lands (1) the total area available for allotment purposes on the Browne Estate, Breaffy, Castlebar, County Mayo, (2) the original price paid for it, and (3) the amount taken in rents, etc., since its acquisition.

Following are the replies to the various parts of the question:— (1) 374 acres approximately—apart from 62 acres disposed of with the mansion; (2) This sale was a voluntary transaction, it has not been the practice to publish the purchase money in such cases; (3) £2,476 — which was entirely absorbed by outgoings.

Would the Minister explain why the purchase price is not revealed in the case of a voluntary transaction?

It is not revealed in the case of voluntary transactions because, just as in any other private sales, those concerned do not want their business published to all and sundry.

It is not a private sale where State money bought an estate.

This was an ordinary, private, voluntary sale between the former owner and the Land Commission.

I could understand that while the sale is going through.

In such cases the price or details have never been disclosed.

33.

asked the Minister for Lands the names of allottees on the Browne Estate, Breaffy, Castlebar, County Mayo; the acreage allotted in each case; the circumstances of each allottee which the Commissioners relied on to satisfy the requirements of section 12 of the Land Act, 1950; the rateable valuation of the allottee before and after allotment; and the annuity in each case.

In replying to previous questions of this kind I stated that, while there is no secrecy regarding the identity of allottees, I felt very strongly that there should be the least possible invasion of the affairs of private individuals—even when they are the recipients of land from the Land Commission. For this reason and having regard to the fact that the estate in question has been substantially allotted, I reluctantly give the particulars sought, but only to such extent as will not disclose personal or family information obtained by the Land Commission on a confidential basis from the persons concerned or such other details as ought to remain private as between the Land Commission and their allottees.

The relevant particulars are accordingly set out in a tabular statement which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

NOTES.

1. Rateable valuations of the various holdings after allotment are not available in the Land Commission.

2. Michael Golden surrendered part of his existing lands to the Land Commission.

34.

asked the Minister for Lands the number of landowners visited by the Land Commission inspector to determine their circumstances and suitability for allotment; and why certain young farmers as well as married men with families residing on small holdings and within a reasonable distance were not considered for, or allotted, additions on the Browne Estate, Breaffy, Castlebar, County Mayo.

In all, 47 landowners were interviewed; generally, these either resided or owned land within about a mile of the estate. As the area available for division was limited to 374 statute acres, no useful purpose would have been served by interviewing more distant applicants. All successful applicants are within a mile of the estate.