§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the office staff of the Estates Commissioners is entirely unable to deal with the originating applications as they are lodged, and that a period of some weeks must elapse before an application now lodged can be even opened; and whether he will take steps to have the staff augmented.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThere has been some delay in dealing with such applications; but the delay has been unavoidable and incidental to the working of a department only recently constituted. The Treasury has sanctioned an augmentation of the staff, both indoor and outdoor, and the work of the Department will now proceed with greater expedition.