§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDY (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have refused to sanction the sale of the Crookenden and Casey Estate, county Cavan; will he state what the Commissioners' reasons were, what were the terms of sale proposed, who was responsible for the same, and whether these tenants may hope for another opportunity of purchasing.
MR. BRYCEI am informed by the Estates Commissioners that proceedings were instituted before them for the sale of the property, referred to as five separate estates. The total purchase-money agreed upon was £41,982. The Commissioners had three of the estates inspected, the proposed purchase price of which averaged 21.8 years' purchase of the nominal rents. The Commissioners, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them by statute, declined to declare the land fit to be regarded as separate estates for the purposes of the Act of 1903. They will, however, be prepared to consider any application which may be made to them to purchase the estate under Section 6 of the Act.