asked the Minister for Lands if he intends to take over the lands attached to the old Christian Brothers School, Letterfrack, County Galway, and have them divided among the local congests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Cavan): The Land Commission recently carried out a detailed inspection of the property referred to following which they decided to negotiate for the voluntary purchase of the greater part of the lands. It is expected that the negotiations will commence shortly.

May I ask the Minister in the allocation of these lands eventually to keep in mind the interests of the herds who were formerly employed by the Christian Brothers and had the grazing of lands owned by them which are now, it seems, to be taken over by the Land Commission? Could the Minister give us an assurance that their interest will be given special consideration?

(Cavan): In the ordinary course of events, the Land Commission would take into consideration the claims of the herds. I am confident that they will do so. The Deputy's remarks will be conveyed to the Land Commission.

I am very grateful to the Minister for that assurance. I expected that that would be his attitude. Is the Minister aware that some of them are concerned because they have not been well treated up to now? As the Minister knows, this has been going on for some months.

(Cavan): I am not so aware. The Deputy will realise that the Land Commission have not yet got possession of the land. They are in the course of conducting voluntary negotiations.

What are they to do with their cattle in the meantime?

(Cavan): The Land Commission could not help them because they do not own the land.

2.

asked the Minister for Lands the steps taken by the Land Commission to acquire the lands owned by a company (name supplied) at Kildysart, County Clare.

(Cavan): I understand that in 1969 the Land Commission were interested in acquiring certain lands which now form part of the property referred to but that they withdrew to allow the lands to be purchased in connection with a proposed tourist resort in the area. They are now examining the matter in the light of recent development and are considering the position in regard to all the lands in the ownership of the company.

Will the Minister inform the Land Commission that these lands will be offered for sale in the near future by the Receiver and that it is very important that they should do their inspection very quickly? These lands are in the hands of the Receiver and will, I understand, be offered for sale in the very near future.

(Cavan): I understand that the Land Commission are aware of the position.

Will the Minister also point out to the Land Commission that these lands offer an excellent opportunity for the Land Commission to migrate people living on islands in the Shannon/Fergus Estuary on to the mainland, particularly people with young families. Will he bring this to the notice of the Land Commission?

(Cavan): What the Deputy has said will be brought to the notice of the Land Commission.

3.

asked the Minister for Lands the progress, if any, made by the Land Commission in acquiring the Keane estate, Crossmore, Kilrush, County Clare.

(Cavan): The Land Commission had the question of acquiring the property referred to under review for some years but decided last year to take no action in the matter.

4.

asked the Minister for Lands when it is proposed to allocate land from the Fagan estate at Summerhill, County Meath, to Meath County Council for a housing scheme.

(Cavan): The Land Commission are in possession of the property referred to but owing to a difficulty in regard to title the lands have not yet become vested in them. However it is hoped that this difficulty will be resolved in the near future and the county council's application will then be fully considered in connection with the resale of the lands.

I thought the Land Commission had power——

A question, Deputy.

Is the Minister aware that I understood that they had power to overcome legal difficulties in vesting land in their own limited title, I think they call it?

(Cavan): What the Deputy says is correct in certain cases, but land referred to in this question is really the subject of an exchange of holdings. The Land Commission gave the owner another holding and in return he offered them this one. It then transpired that the title to this holding which the Land Commission are getting is not in order. The Land Commission gave the owner of this land a letting of the land which he will eventually be getting and they took a letting of this land. In the meantime, the owner's solicitor is taking steps to perfect the title. I understand that an application is pending in the Land Registry at the moment. It is not an ordinary case of the Land Commission acquiring land by compulsory acquisition. If it were, the Land Commission could proceed as suggested by the Deputy but not in this case.

I have information——

Deputy Crinion must not make statements.

Will the Minister try to clear it in the Land Registry in the next week or two?

(Cavan): If the owner's solicitor were to make representations to me I would be able to help.