§ MR. O'SHEETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that difficulties have arisen as to making loans applied for to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, in consequence of tenants having signed agreements to purchase their holdings under the Land Act of 1903, and pending the completion of such purchase, the issue of loans is delayed, inasmuch as the statutes relating to loans to owners of land are not the same as those relating to loans to tenants; and whether, seeing that the Commissioners of Public Works decline, while purchase is pending, to treat applicants for loans as either tenants or owners, and delays in connection with purchase are occurring, he will take steps to introduce legislation, to deal with the matter.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) Loans to tenants purchasing under the Act of 1903 are not delayed by the Board of Works pending completion of sale, provided the tenants can produce receipts for rent showing that, in the event of the sale from any cause falling through, they would not be liable for more than twelve months rent, an arrear of a year's rent being a barrier to a tenant's loan. Purchasing tenants cannot be treated as owners until the fee simple of their holdings has been legally transferred to them by the issue of the Land Commission vesting order. I do not think it advisable, in the interests of the security for Government advances, that any further concession should be made.