§ DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will grant a Return of the Irish estates in the Court of Chancery giving the extent in statute acres in each case, the rent roll of each estate, and the number of years it has been in Chancery; whether any attempt has been made by the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners to purchase any of those estates; and, if so, when and why did the negotiations fall through; and could he give the names of such estates.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have referred this Question to the Lord Chancellor, who informs me that the preparation of the Return asked for would involve labour and expense out of all proportion to any possible advantage that could result from the Return. The employment of a large additional staff of skilled persons would be necessary for the investigation of the records of proceedings of the Four Courts of Equity, as well as of the proceedings of the Congested Districts Board and the Estates Commissioners, respectively, and before the Return could be completed many of the estates included in it would probably have been sold. In these circumstances, I am afraid the Return cannot be granted.