§ MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what steps, if any, are being taken by the Estates Commissioners to have the ten evicted tenants on the Messrs. Knox estate, situate near Curry, in the County of Sligo, reinstated in their holdings; whether the present occupiers of these evicted holdings are now prepared to surrender them in consideration of compensation being paid; and, if so, whether immediate action will be taken to have these families restored to their homes.
§ MR. BIRRELLIn two of the ten cases referred to the applications for reinstatement were not received by the Estates Commissioners within the time prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, in five the Commissioners have decided to take no action, in two they have intimated to the receiver the price they are prepared to pay for the evicted farms if the former tenants are restored, and the remaining case will be considered in connection with allotment of untenanted land. The Commissioners cannot say whether the present occupiers of the holdings in question are prepared to surrender them.