§ DR. AMBROSE () Mayo, W.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of acres of land purchased by the Congested Districts Board in the province of Connaught since the Congested Districts Board Act came into force, dividing them into the number of acres already striped and in the hands of tenants; the number of acres unstriped and in the hands of the Congested Districts Board, and how long have the Congested Districts Board been in possession of such lands; the number of acres striped and in the possession of the Congested Districts Board, and how long have such lands been in the Board's possession; and how many acres have been purchased within the last two years.
§ MR. PLUNKETTThe number of acres purchased by the Board in Connaught down to the present date is 136,884. Of these the number of acres apportioned and in the occupation of tenants is 106,591. The acreage in the occupation of tenants though not yet apportioned is 4,069. The number of acres apportioned but still in the Board's possession is 1,060, of which 688 are now ready for occupation. And there are 25,161 acres not yet apportioned. The number of acres in the province purchased within the past two years and comprised in the foregoing figures is 128,989, the greater proportion of which, namely, more than 91,000 acres, is made up of one property the Dillon estate. Of the 25,161 acres not yet apportioned, it must be borne in mind that the more apportionment is a work that occupies very little time. Considerable delay is often entailed in the execution of the conveyance of the fee-simple, not to speak of the large amount of work involved in connection with fencing, the construction of accommoda- 1109 tion roads, and the erection of new houses to replace those unfit for habitation.