§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that injury is done at Bar row, Fenit, to the houses and lands of purchased tenants by drifting sand; 374 whether, if nothing can be done to protect these tenants, they will still be compelled to pay the annuities for their holdings, which are considerably reduced in value; and whether another independent engineer will be sent to report on the matter.
MR. BRYCEIt appears to be the fact that a certain amount of injury has been caused by drifting sand to the holdings of two or three tenants at Barrow who have purchased under the Land Acts, but, as I informed the hon. Member on Thursday last,† there are no funds at the disposal of the Government which could properly be applied to abating the evil. The case appears to be one in which the tenant purchasers themselves should endeavour to devise a remedy. I have no objection, however, to ask the Board of Works if they could have the place examined by their engineer, with the object of assisting the tenants with advice, but it should be clearly understood that no other assistance may be counted upon. The Land Commission consider that they are legally bound to continue collecting the annuities.
§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLAs a considerable area of land has been covered by sand, cannot some reduction be made in the annuity?
MR. BRYCEThat is a question for the Land Commissioners to determine. I do not think much land is covered by sand.