asked the Minister for Agriculture when it is proposed to divide the Greene Estate at Lydacan, Gort, County Galway.

206.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when the Land Commission intend to divide the Greene estate, Craunagh, Gort, County Galway.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 205, and 206, together.

Possession of this holding was not obtained until February last and, owing to the amount of land awaiting division, it is unlikely that it will be allotted before 1983.

207.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will request the Land Commission to purchase the Hanrahan Estate at Cahermore and Caherawoneen South, Kinvara, County Galway.

208.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Land Commission propose to acquire the Nolan Estate at Caherglassaun and Killomoran, County Galway, which was recently offered for sale in view of the fact that many congests living in the district would appreciate their intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

209.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is proposed to purchase the Corley Estate, Cloon, Gort, County Galway, as it has been offered for sale and many congests in the area are most anxious that the Land Commission acquire it; and if section 40 of the Land Act, 1923 will be utilised to acquire it.

210.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will direct the Land Commission to acquire the Corley Estate, Cloon, Gort, County Galway, for division among the local congests.

211.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when the Land Commission will acquire the Corley Estate, Cloon, Gort, County Galway.

212.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Land Commission will purchase the Hallinan Estate at Gardenblake, Peterswell, County Galway.

213.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Land Commission intends to acquire the Murphy Estate, Coolruss, Clonegal, County Wicklow.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 to 213 inclusive, together.

The Land Commission are at present concentrating their attention on dividing the substantial area of lands in their possession and on completing proceedings for those properties which are in the course of acquisition. In these circumstances it is not proposed at present to take any action towards the acquisition of the properties referred to by the Deputies.

214.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when it is proposed that the Land Commission will divide the Murray and Grealy Estates at Mountain West and Derrydonnell, County Galway, as congests are most anxious to have the division completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Possession of these properties was obtained in June 1981 and May 1980 respectively. It is hoped to include the lands in the 1983 allotment programme.

215.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when the Land Commission will divide the Champion Estate at Maree, Oranmore, County Galway.

The Land Commission hope to divide this property within the next few months.

216.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the progress made by his officials in relation to the acquisition of the lands at Boolanlisheen, Ballynamuddy, which is part of the Galtee Mountains in County Limerick.

The Land Commission are unable to identify the property in question from the particulars supplied. If the Deputy will supply further information I shall arrange to have inquiries made.

217.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when the Land Commission will allocate the Muldoon Estate, Mount Temple, County Westmeath.

The Land Commission are preparing a composite scheme for division of this and other estates in the area aggregating some 125 hectares. It is hoped that the lands will be allotted within the next twelve months or so.

218.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of section 40 orders that were issued to sellers of farms in the last three months; and if the Land Commission are now acquiring land, if offered by the owner.

During the period mentioned a notice under section 40 of the Land Act, 1923, was issued to one landowner. As to the second part of the question, proceedings are currently in train for the acquisition of properties comprising some 12,000 hectares of land. The Land Commission are at present concentrating their attention on early completion of those proceedings and on dividing the very substantial area — some 28,000 hectares — of land already on hands. With the emphasis on these activities and particularly on the disposal of land on hands, the initiation of proceedings for the acquisition of further properties must necessarily be curtailed for the time being.

219.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of all lands in County Roscommon in the hands of the Land Commission indicating the name and location of the estate it is proposed to allot during (i) the remainder of 1981 and (ii) 1982.

The information requested is set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Particulars of lettable lands (apart from insignificant residues of partly allotted properties) in possession of the Land Commission for division in County Roscommon.

(i) It is expected that the estates marked with an asterisk will be allotted in whole or in part within the next six months or so.

(ii) As the allotment programme for 1982 has not yet been settled, it is not possible to give the details requested for that year. The information should be available in about three months' time.

220.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount of land acquired since July 1981 in each of the 26 counties of Ireland; and the location and area in each case.

The information requested is set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Land Acquired by Land Commission since 1 July 1981.

221.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will arrange for the acquisition by the Land Commission of the Guinness estate, Ballyconnelly, County Galway, for division among local congests.

222.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the Guinness estate in Ballyconnelly is being offered for sale and that this is an area where the land is poor and the farms are small; and why the land was not obtained by the Land Commission and distributed among local tenants.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.

I am aware of the circumstances in relation to this property and also of the general conditions in the area. The lands in question would not appear to be suitable for ordinary Land Commission purposes because of their nature and lay-out and it is not proposed to take any steps towards their acquisition.

223.

asked the Minister for Agriculture when the Corveen bogs at Derrybeg, County Donegal, will be divided.

226.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps being taken to provide further turbary plots in the Corveen Bog, Gweedore, County Donegal, in view of the scarcity of available plots in the Gweedore area and of the necessity to conserve energy.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 226 together.

The Land Commission hope to divide these bogs in the next six months or so.

224.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will ensure that the O'Donnell estate, Tangaveane, County Donegal, will be developed further in order to provide additional turbary plots in view of the scarcity of plots in the Rosses, County Donegal, and of the necessity to conserve energy.

An area of some 120 hectares of this bog has already been developed and the bulk of it has been allotted to local persons requiring turbary. The remainder of this area is let on a seasonal basis and it is hoped to dispose of it permanently within the next few months. It is not possible to indicate at this stage when the balance of the bog, comprising a further 200 hectares, can be developed and allotted.

225.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Land Commission will acquire the Twomey estate, Drumclieve, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Proceedings for the acquisition of this property were, in fact, instituted earlier this year. An objection lodged by the owners came for public hearing in the Land Commission Court last month and was allowed. This had the effect of terminating the acquisition proceedings.