asked the Minister for Agriculture his policy in regard to the acquisition of land in County Galway for division among congest farmers.

While acquisition policy in all counties, including Galway, is directed primarily towards improving land structure, the Land Commission are at present concentrating their attention on dividing the large area of land already on hands and on the early completion of existing acquisition proceedings. In these circumstances and in view of the serious Exchequer situation, the initiation of proceedings for the acquisition of further properties is necessarily curtailed.

Will the Land Commission be stepping up the acquisition of land? The land pool in many parts of the country, including Galway, is falling and many farmers are anxious that the Land Commission proceed to acquire more land.

The Deputy has said the land pool is diminishing and there are several reasons for that. It is a heavy drain on the Exchequer. The cost of land in the past few years has been a deterrent not alone to the Exchequer but also to the people getting land because in some cases they are not able to pay for it. As has been the policy in the past few years, it is not envisaged in the immediate future that very much more land will be acquired.

9.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will withhold sanction under section 40 of the Land Act, 1923 in respect of sale of land between persons (details supplied) in County Galway; if he will initiate acquisition procedures to enable the land to be divided among local congests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Land Commision have no proceedings for the acquisition of this holding but inquiries are being made in the case.