§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can state when the Sub-Commission for County Donegal will hear the fair rent applications entered from the Union of Stranorlar, the Union of Strabane, and the district of Dunfanaghy; and, whether he is aware that a large number of tenants residing in this Union had their originating notices served on the Land Commission before the gale day at November last, and, although entitled to the benefit of the reduced rent in respect of the half-year expiring on the gale 1491 day next previous to the passing of "the Irish Land Act, 1887," they will be obliged to pay the old rent up to the date of the decision of the Commissioners?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: The Land Commissioners inform me that on the 14th of October last there were but nine cases unheard in the Stranorlar Union, five in the Strabane Union, and four in the Dunfanaghy Union. They were not at present in a position to say when the application from these Unions will be heard. The Sub-Commission which has been sitting in the County Donegal since the 10th of January continue there until the end of April; but its time will be fully occupied by applications from the remaining Unions of the county, all of which were entered prior to the 14th of October. As regards the latter portion of the Question, it is to be observed that where a tenant has made application prior to the gale day next following the passing of the Act quoted, he will be entitled to deduct any over-payment he may have made for the half-year expiring on that gale day upon the judicial rent being fixed.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the Union of Stranorlar alone there were 200 notices lodged in November?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANI am not aware of that.