§ MR. DUFFYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Ballyfinton section of Lord De Freyne's property, situated near Loughrea, were prevented from completing the purchase of their land some time ago by the action of the Congested Districts Board in buying the property without consulting them; whether he is aware that they are now threatened with law proceedings unless the arrears are paid up, despite the fact that all the arrears then due were to have been extinguished according to the negotiations carried on between the tenants and Lord De Freyne; and whether he will recommend the Congested Districts Board to allow the tenants an equivalent reduction to that which they would be entitled to if the property had not been purchased by the Board.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe Board have purchased the county Galway portion of this estate, and it is necessary that they should collect the rents in order to meet their engagements with the vendor. They will, however, lose no time in selling the holdings as soon as the estate has been legally vested in them. The terms of sale to the tenants will be considered in due course.