asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of holdings and their size in the possession of the Land Commission in County Kerry; the present position with regard to these lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There are two holdings in the possession of the Land Commission in County Kerry. One contains 39 hectares and the other 22 hectares. Every effort is being made to dispose of the lands as quickly as possible but, having regard to the limited field staff now available for all land settlement work, I cannot say when this will be done.

Would it be possible to lease this land until it is disposed of?

I assume the Deputy is referring to medium or long term leasing?

I am also referring to short term leasing.

I assume that it is already let under the 11 months system. However, if the local Land Commission office are given an indication that a young — or not so young — farmer is interested in short or long term leasing, I will ask them to consider the matter.

(Limerick West): Has the Minister or his Department any plans to dispose of the property by long term leasing as he outlined three years ago in the House?

He forgot about that.

Long term leasing is alive and doing very well in some parts of the country. The problem with little pieces of land dotted here and there is that most of them are not suitable for long term leasing.

I will not have a general discussion on this.