asked the Minister for Lands when the Barnacle, Greally, McNicholas, Monaghan and Mullowney holdings in the Balla, County Mayo, area will be given to the local congests.

Composite plans for allotment of the Barnacle, Greally, McNicholas, Monaghan, and Mullowney Estates, together with six other properties in the same area, have been formulated and are under active consideration just now. I am hopeful that these plans will be approved so as to permit allocation of a substantial portion of the acreage involved—264 acres —this spring.

34.

asked the Minister for Lands the reason for the delay in dividing the Noone estate, County Mayo, and other holdings in that area which have been acquired for some years.

Preparation of plans for extensive restructuring and rearrangement of smallholdings in the Knock/Barnacarroll area was deferred pending the acquisition of sufficient land to enable a more balanced and worthwhile scheme of land settlement to be prepared. Possession of the latest of these properties passed to the Land Commission two weeks ago.

Composite plans for division of the Noone Estate and 14 other properties in the locality, aggregating almost 500 acres, have been approved and I expect that allocation of a substantial portion of the total acreage will be effected in the next few weeks.

From the replies to the last five questions is it not obvious that the Land Commission are rather slow regarding land division, particularly in the areas mentioned?

That is a separate question.

A lot depends on the nature of the congestion in a particular locality. In the Barnacarroll area it was particularly difficult.

Is the Minister aware that on every occasion on which I discussed this question with the Land Commission I was told that in a number of cases the problem is shortage of staff?

I do not accept that that is so.

It is the case in Galway.

I will look into the Galway situation.

Would the Minister accept that there seems to be some delay in allocating the land in the Balla area? There are two or three houses on those holdings that are derelict——

The Deputy is making a statement now.

The land should be allocated immediately.