§ MR. JOHN O'DONNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Nolan Farrell Estate, near Ballyhaunis, county Mayo, has been purchased by the Congested Districts Board; that there Ms an extensive demesne on the estate; that this demesne has been let to a grazier, named Curran, up to the 1st of May next, although a number of tenants in the vicinity, whose holdings are uneconomic, were anxious to procure it for the use of their cattle; whether the letting was made by the Congested Districts Board or the landlord, and on what terms; and whether steps will be at once taken to ensure that there will be no further letting to this man, and that the place will be divided amongst the tenants on the estate for the purpose of enlarging their holdings or creating new ones.
(Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The Board has only recently received possession of these lands. The occupier, Mr. Curran, has been allowed to remain in occupation until 1st May to give him an opportunity of disposing of his stock without loss. He is to pay £15 for the grazing for this period. The Board will take over the lands on the date mentioned and deal with them as they consider best pending the rearrangement of the estate, which cannot be commenced until the Board are legal owners of it.