82. Mr. LAWasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, pending the completion of the legal steps required to transfer to the Congested Districts Board the ownership of the Lackenagh grazing farm, near Burtonport, county Donegal, possession will be taken of the land under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, so that tillage operations may be begun during the ensuing spring?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Congested Districts Board have no power to take possession of lands under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. The lands referred to in the question were inspected on 27th March last, and reported to be not arable. The Tillage Regulations, therefore, did not apply. The lands were used in 1916 for grazing with a small patch of meadow. They are covered with rocks and heather, and the inspector reported "it would not be possible to get a rood of land in one place that could be tilled."
Mr. LAWDoes the right hon. Gentleman know any land in that particular district which the ordinary farmer would call arable?
§ Mr. DUKEWhen you are applying the Tillage Regulations you would not call the wildest part of Donegal a typical area to which to apply them.