§ MR. JOHN O'DONNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Brown Hall Estate, near Balla, county Mayo, has been purchased by the Congested Districts Board so far back as May, 1903; that there are 179 acres of grazing land on the estate; that nothing has yet been done by the Board in the way of dividing the grazing land between the tenants who are in need of an enlargement of their holdings; that the sale took place on the understanding that the grazing lands would be divided without delay, and all as resold to the tenants at the price offered by them, seventeen years purchase; and, if so, when will these grazing lands be striped and given over to the tenants; and whether they will be entitled to the benefit of the reduced payments brought about by the sale since the date on which it took place.
(Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) This estate was purchased by the Board in 1903, and possession was obtained in 1904. The Board are at present carrying out the work of striping and fencing the grazing lands referred to, with a view to their immediate disposal. There was no such understanding with the tenants as 42 that mentioned, and the reduced payments will not come into operation till the lands are sold to the tenants.