asked the Minister for Lands if he will give urgent consideration to ensure that the Land Commission give equal priority to con-acre farmers in the allotting of land which those farmers have been renting for years.

(Cavan): The primary objective of land settlement policy at present is the structural reform of uneconomic holdings throughout the State. Nevertheless, the Land Commission have, for long, been aware of the claims of men, especially in East Donegal, who can be described as farmers without land.

However, where land division is concerned, the demand invariably exceeds the supply and in that situation the Land Commission have to weigh the merits of one individual or category against the other. In particular, they may not disregard their principal obligation, as stated already, to enlarge as many as possible of the great number of existing non-viable holdings whose owners will not be able to survive in farming unless they can secure extra land.

Despite this, the Land Commission have always taken into account the position of the conacre farmer in East Donegal and, of the 23 new farms allotted there in the period since 1964, 14 were given to conacre farmers.

While this position is peculiar to East Donegal, are these conacre farmers regarded as third priority re-settlement cases and do migrant holdings come under the third category?

(Cavan): They are not regarded as a top priority. The bringing up of the uneconomic holder to an economic standard is first priority. Long distance migration is practically a thing of the past.

Could the Minister have a further look at this matter in very special cases? In regard to peculiar circumstances whereby truly landless men are very good farmers could these people not be regarded as farmers for the purposes of the Act to bring them into the top priority category? Once and estate is divided for all these other laudable purposes those who have been working on it have nothing left.

(Cavan): The Deputy may take it that each case will be considered on its merits.

Sir, my remaining questions will take a brief period. Perhaps I could continue with the consent of the House?

Agreed.

44.