§ MR. DALTON (Donegal, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a licence for a pound at Ballyconnell, on the Olphert Estate, has recently been granted in a place which has none of the qualifications necessary for a pound, and is actually a part of the farmyard of Ballyconnell House, to which there is no access except through Mr. Olphert's private grounds; what necessity there is for a pound in this place; and whether the licence will be withdrawn if it should be found on inquiry that no necessity exists for this pound?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that the licence was granted some years ago. The pound is in the farmyard of Ballyconnell House, and has the qualifications for a pound. It is accessible 1211 from the public road through an open lane. The pound is necessary and is frequently used.
§ MR. DALTONI beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can state how many licensed pounds are now on the Olphert Estate, who granted the licences, who are the pound keepers, and have they entered into recognisances; and, if so, who are the sureties; whether these places have any of the qualifications necessary for a pound; whether he can state the charges made by the bailiffs for sheep that are on their way to the pound or in the pound; how much money has been collected off the district for trespass within the past six months, and to whom does this money go; whether the police are authorised in assisting to drive cattle and sheep to these pounds; and whether he is aware that on the 11th August six bailiffs and three policemen made a raid on the waste lands of Glashercoo and took away 47 sheep from a vacant house in which they were penned, and which were not grazing on the land or doing any damage whatever, and on their way to the pound also took along some sheep grazing by the roadside?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am unable to answer this question.