§ MR. ROCHE (Galway, E)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a resolution from the Poor Law Guardians of the Mount Bellew Union, expressing disappointment at the refusal of the Congested Districts Board to make any offer for the purchase of the Fallon Estate which has been offered for sale to the Rushton tenants, on the ground that the lands in question are not in a congested district; and, whether, in view of the fact that the Congested Districts Board were inclined last February to purchase land in this district, and sent down their inspector with that purpose, 694 and, having regard to the condition of these tenants, he will induce the Congested Districts Board to reconsider their decision.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe resolution has been received. The Board did not undertake to purchase the lands, but promised to consider the question of purchase. The Report submitted to the Board does not, in its opinion, justify purchase, as it would be impossible to meet the needs of tenants whose lands have been damaged by a bog slide and at the same time bring in migrants from a congested district.