asked the Minister for Lands the reason for the long delay in having the Willington and Cahalan estates, Rathcablin, Lamaha, Nenagh, County Tipperary, divided amongst the deserving applicants in the area.

These two properties, aggregating some 650 acres, have been treated as a unit for resale purposes. Having regard to the substantial acreage involved, considerable inquiries on the ground were necessary before a scheme of division could be formulated. As yet, I am unable to say when the properties will be allocated but I understand that every effort is being made by the Land Commission to ensure that as much as possible of the lands are included in the current year's allocation programme.

On the question of the Land Commission dividing these lands, will they consider setting them on the basis of a smaller acreage so that the small farmers will have some hope of taking some, and not give them to those ranchers who are dealing in larger acreages?

I am hopeful, as I mentioned, that the lands will be included in the current year's allocation programme.