asked the Minister for Agriculture (i) the number of applications at present before the Land Commission for the acquisition of land, (a) in the country and (b) in County Galway; (ii) the number of acres of land acquired by the Land Commission (a) in the country and (b) in County Galway in 1983 to date; and (iii) the number of farms and acres therein which the Land Commission has refused to acquire so far in 1983 (a) in the country and (b) in County Galway.

As the Land Commission compulsory powers of acquisition are not exercised on the basis of applications, answers to parts (i) and (iii) do not arise.

The answer to part (ii) is: (a) 68 holdings, 1,333 hectares; (b) seven holdings, 196 hectares.

Perhaps the word "applications" was not the relevant word to use. Would the Minister agree that if a number of farmers in a locality visit the local Land Commission office, or if a public representative makes representations on behalf of these farmers for the acquisition of land, that should be regarded as an application to acquire land? How many representations have been made by groups, or individuals, or public representatives for land to be acquired by the Land Commission over the period?

I am sorry. I have not got that information here. It is quite difficult to get information of that nature. Some groups may go to the Land Commission office and then do not pursue it any further. It is not practicable to get that type of information.

The Minister said the number is seven. Would he define exactly what he means by the number seven? Does he propose to abolish the Land Commission in his proposals for land reform?

The figure seven refers to the number of holdings acquired in 1983 in County Galway. I want to make it clear that negotiations have been going on for the past 18 months. It is very difficult to put a time limit on the date of acquisition. It is not the intention to disband the Land Commission. It is more a question of redirecting their efforts.

Can the Minister tell the House what acreage was acquired by the Land Commission in 1983, if any?

It would appear from part of the answer to Deputy Treacy that 68 holdings comprising 1,333 hectares were acquired.

Is that nationally?

Yes.

Is it the policy of the Land Commission to continue to acquire land for smallholders?

These are all separate questions.

They are relevant.

They are not relevant.

What is the Minister's policy?

Policy is not relevant. A discussion on policy is not relevant at Question Time.

In view of repeated replies to our representations from the Land Commission in County Galway and throughout the country that land cannot be acquired because of the non-availability of finance and the fact that only in very extreme cases — and that is borne out by the fact that only seven were acquired so far in County Galway — is land being acquired by the Land Commission in County Galway? Will the Minister confirm that in most areas where land is now becoming available, as the Minister's own experience will prove, the Land Commission do not want to know about it, and do not want to get involved——

I ask Deputies to bear with me. This could be made into a very wide issue. The question asks for a number of statistics. I have checked and the Minister was not asked to make a statement. It is unreasonable to turn this into a debate on Land Commission policy. I am moving on to the next question.

The Minister referred to the figure seven in his answer. I want to get to the root——

These are separate questions.

(Limerick West): The Minister does not want to answer the question.

I will allow Deputy Treacy to ask a supplementary question since he put down the question.

(Limerick West): I know the Ceann Comhairle has no control over that.

It is my business to keep us between the rails if I can.

I have a question which is just as relevant as the other questions asked.

I have ruled that they were not relevant.

On the question of land policy, it is not true that when Mr. Gibbons was Minister he declared that the Land Commission——

I am ruling that out.

Mr. Gibbons told the Land Commission——

I have ruled that out. It is policy. Deputy N. Treacy with a final supplementary.

As the person who submitted this question I am completely taken aback that the Minister cannot tell us——

A question Deputy.

——the number of applications before the Land Commission for the acquisition of land. Could I rephrase the question by asking the Minister to tell us how many requests for applications were before the Land Commission in the aforementioned period?

I have not got that information.

Ceist 15.

Directly relating to the figure seven——

Will Deputies bear with me? The Estimate for the Land Commission is on today's Order Paper and that is the time for this debate. Uimhir 15.

Arising from the figure seven——

The Deputy is anticipating the debate on the Land Commission.

Based on the Minister's reply, could I ask him why only seven estates were acquired?

The Deputy can ask that this evening for as long as he likes.

A Fianna Fáil Minister told the Land Commission to buy no land.

People in glasshouses.

Ceist 15.

15.

asked the Minister for Agriculture (i) the number of farms in the hands of the Land Commission in County Galway; (ii) the total acreage of these lands; (iii) the length of time these lands have been in the hands of the Land Commission; (iv) when it is proposed to allocate these lands among the farmers of the county; and (v) if proposals to allocate some of those lands in early 1983 have been postponed.

I propose to circulate the information requested, which is in the form of a tabular statement, in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Lettable lands in the possession of the Land Commission in County Galway at 16/6/83.

Notes:

(1) It is not possible to say when all the properties listed will be disposed of but it is hoped that those estates marked with an asterisk will be wholly or partly allotted in the next 12 months or so.

(2) There has been no postponement in the allocation of lands scheduled for division for this year.