HC Deb 15 March 1906 vol 153 cc1429-30
MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give the names and qualifications of the tenants who have got new holdings on the Goodbody estate, near Athenry; how many of the former occupying tenants on the same property made application for additional land; and will he state what apportionment of the land was made amongst them.

MR. BRYCE

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the purchase by them of a portion of this estate has not yet been completed. Provisional arrangements, however, have been made for the disposal of the untenanted land to twenty-four purchasers, all of whom are tenants on the estate, with the exception of one, who is the son of a tenant. The Commissioners do not consider it desirable to make any statement as to the names of the proposed purchasers or the apportionment of the lands among them until the sale is completed.

MR. DUFFY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland recently purchased the Goodbody estate, near Athenry; what was the extent and area of this property, how much of it has been retained by the Department of Agriculture, and what quantity of it has been handed over to the Estate Commissioners, firstly, as untenanted land, and secondly, as holdings in the possession of agricultural tenants.

MR. BRYCE

The Department of Agriculture have recently purchased the estate, which comprised 2,305 acres. The Department have retained for their own purposes, 740 acres, and proceedings are being taken for the sale by them to the Estate Commissioners of the remaining 1,565 acres. Of the latter quantity, l,064½ acres are untenanted, and 500½ acres are tenanted.

MR. DUFFY

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the claims of the evicted tenant on this property? Will he suggest to the Estates Commissioners the desirability of providing for this man?

MR. BRYCE

promised to forward any communication the hon. Member might send him to the Commissioners.