§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether representations have been made to the Estates Commissioners, on behalf of the small occupiers of land in the parish of Kiltoom, county Roscommon, as to the general desire of the people that the lands of Carrounolan, in the barony of Athlone, should be acquired for the purpose of enlarging the small holdings; and, in view of the fact that a certain portion of the proprietors' interests in these lands is now for sale, and that this is the only untenanted land in the parish which, with this exception, has only small and, in many cases, uneconomic holdings, will he advise the Estates Commissioners to vise their powers of initiating negotiations with all those interested in the ownership of this land for the purpose of making it available for distribution.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. The estate referred to is that of Williams and others, and the Commissioners have ascertained that three undivided sevenths of this estate are for sale in the Land Judge's Court. The Commissioners are not satisfied that it will be possible for them to purchase undivided shares of the estate for division amongst small tenants in the vicinity, but they are making further inquiries in the matter, and, if it should be found practicable they will issue a request to the Land Judge under Section 7 of the Act of 1903, with a view to considering the question of purchase.