asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the estate name, situation and area of those lands which were on the 1st September, 1952, and had been in the possession of the Land Commission since 1st January, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950, respectively, and which have not yet been allotted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Commission Lands.
Including 50,000 acres of land taken over from the former Congested Districts Board and Estates Commissioners, the Land Commission have on hands 145,000 acres of land of all categories. These figures vary from day to day according as estates are acquired and land is allotted. Of the total area, 97,000 acres are bog, mountain, or waste; 24,000 acres of former Congested Districts Board land are let, pending rearrangement or resale, to the prospective allottees and the balance of 24,000 acres constitutes grazing and arable lands pending for division. Most of the area on hands comprises the undivided remnants of the 10,000 odd estates and holdings comprising about 2,000,000 acres of untenanted land taken over since land acquisition started.
There are obvious difficulties and objections in the way of supplying in respect of each individual parcel on hands the detailed information requested but if the Deputy is concerned with any particular estate and will communicate with me, I will see what can be done.
Is it correct to say that some portion of the 145,000 acres mentioned by the Minister is land that has been allotted but not vested in tenants?
Possibly.
Is that not the truth of the matter?
I cannot say at the moment.