Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if ownership of the commonage at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry can be transferred to a group of persons who have had long term rights to the commonage.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15229/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand that this parcel of land is subject to a trust set up in 1907 between the then landlord and trustees, one of whom was the landlord himself, to permit various persons to cut, make, spread and save, turf and depasture cattle sheep and horses on the trust estate.

Provision was made in the trust document for the ongoing appointment of new trustees by the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee and where there was no surviving or continuing trustee competent or willing to act, trustees may be appointed by the Irish Land Commission. This is the only power given to the Commission by the trust deed.

As successor to the Irish Land Commission, if there are no surviving or continuing trustees or trustee, I would be prepared to appoint trustees if agreed persons willing to act were nominated to my Department.

This trust was not set up under the Land Purchase Acts. Other trusts, particularly sports fields trusts were set up under the provisions of the 1903 Land Act, as extended, and in many cases in recent years these properties were transferred, at the trustees request, to GAA Clubs for the benefit of the community.