§ MR. CULLINANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of 786 Ireland if he will state the total number of applications received by the Estates Commissioners from evicted tenants; the number (in counties) who have been restored to their old holdings; the number for which substitute holdings have been provided; and the number for whom no provision has been made; and in the latter class what steps, if any, have been taken.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.)The interim Return of proceedings under the Land Act of 1903, brought down to 30th April last, shows that forty-seven evicted tenants had been reinstated by landlords so far as is known, and twenty-four by the Estates Commissioners. It was also stated in the Return that inquiries were being made and negotiations pending for the purchase of about 15,000 acres of untenanted land in the counties of Roscommon, Galway, Wexford, Miyo, Limerick, Fermanagh, Tipperary, and Dublin, with a view to utilise such lands for the purposes amongst others of the reinstatement of evicted tenants. The Return shows in addition that on a large number of estates, applications for advances from which had been received, the negotiations for sale were in various stages of progress. There are doubtless many evicted holdings on these estates the former tenants of which, or their representatives, have applied to the Commissioners for reinstatement. All such applications are receiving the careful consideration of the Commissioners. I am not prepared, however, as at present advised, to impose on them the preparation of additional interim Returns, which can only have the effect of impeding the working of land purchase.