HC Deb 07 July 1898 vol 61 cc150-1
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state how many separate applications and how many joint applications have been made under section 47 of the Land Act of 1896; what have been the results in the case of the separate applications and in the case of the joint applications; and how many tenants have been reinstated in their holdings under section 47?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

533 applications were received by the Irish Land Commission under section 47 of the Act of 1896; 506 of these were made by the former tenants alone, and in 27 cases the applications were joint applications within the meaning of the Statute. Of the 506 applications referred to, 112 were refused by the Commission, as the applications did not come within the provisions of the Statute; 10 were withdrawn; and in the remaining 384 cases the landlords objected to the proceedings, and the Commissioners were therefore unable to take any further steps on the applications. Of the 27 joint applications 20 were either dismissed or refused by the Commissioners, one was withdrawn, in two the sales have been completed, and the holdings have been vested in the former tenants, while four cases are still pending.

MR. DILLON

Then I understand that only two tenants have been reinstated by the operation of the clause?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

At present that is so.