§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Berridge Estate, Connemara, has been offered to the Congested Districts Board for purchase; and, if so, if he will state the terms demanded by the landlord, and say whether the Congested Districts Board has declined to purchase this estate; and, if so, will he state upon what grounds.
§ extra branches, and for evening schools) are as follows:—
§ (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) A proposal to sell this estate to the Board was made last year and was declined. I cannot disclose the price asked by the owner. The Board considered that they could not by the purchase and resale of the estate confer any substantial advantages on the tenants, seeing that there was no agricultural land available for the enlargement of small holdings, and that the holdings generally were well arranged. There appeared to be nothing to prevent the owner from selling direct to the tenants.